Algeria 1 - Burkina Faso 0

Photo by Farouk Batiche

Burkina Faso made the trip to Blida to take on Algeria.  The Burkinabe came to town nursing a 3-2 advantage on the aggregate scoreboard.  At the quarter hour mark, a cross from Algeria's left flank produced a good chance.  Islam Slimani smashed his unmarked header wide from seven yards out.  With two minutes left, Algeria captain Madjid Bougherra launched himself in the air and dropped a potentially leg-breaking challenge on poor Charles Kabore.  Somehow, Bougherra only saw a yellow card on the play.  The teams exited the field of play even at zero goals apiece.

Early in the second half, Bougherra's presence on the pitch proved vital for the home side.  Off a deep Algerian free kick, the ball was flicked on over the head of Burkina Faso defender Bakary Kone.  Bougherra's initial shot was blocked by Burkina Faso goalkeeper Daouda Diakite.  However, Kone's attempted clearance off the line shot straight into the head of Bougherra and somehow managed to trickle into the goal to put Algeria ahead 1-0.  Algeria were then able to hoard the lion's share of possession, causing the Stallions to become increasingly desperate as the current scoreline would see them eliminated.  Burkina Faso resorted to throwing the injured Alain Traore on the pitch as an attacking substitute in the final minutes as they searched for the equalizer.  A late corner for the Stallions was nearly turned in for an own goal by the Algerians, but the bar saved their tournament lives.  Algeria hold on to take the victory today by a score of 1-0.  The aggregate score over two legs is even at 3-3, but Algeria advance to Brasil 2014 by virtue of winning the road goals tiebreaker 2-0.  Burkina Faso fall just short of their first ever FIFA World Cup finals as they have been eliminated.  The same five African qualifiers for South Africa 2010 will be present in Brasil next June.

Goals
Algeria
Madjid Bougherra 49

Match Reports:
http://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/nov/19/algeria-world-cup-qualifier-burkina-faso
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/news/newsid=2225274/index.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24991552
http://msn.foxsports.com/foxsoccer/worldcup/story/algeria-1-0-burkina-faso-caf-world-cup-playoff-second-leg-111913

Highlights:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Pe5VlT0w0w

Full Match Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NY7--KP_jc8