Stallions Stun Black Stars

06 February 2013

2013 AFCON semi-final

Result: Burkina Faso 1-1 (3-2 pen) Ghana

Date: 6 February 2013

Venue: Mbombela Stadium

Burkina Faso defied all odds to beat Ghana 3-2 in a penalty shootout after playing out a 1-1 draw after extra-time in a dramatic semi-final on Wednesday.

Burkina Faso had a great shout for a penalty just six minutes into the game when Jonathan Pitroipa went down under pressure from John Boye but the referee waved play on to his dismay.

The Black Stars then suffered a blow minutes later when John Pantsil pulled up clutching his hamstring and had to be stretchered off before being replaced by Solomon Asante.

Controversy would strike at the other end in the 12th minute though as the referee pointed to the spot after Saidou Panandetiguiri was adjudged to have pulled down Christian Atsu in the area. The decision seemed very soft but Mubarak Wakaso made no mistake from the spot with a powerful low drive into the bottom corner.

The Stallions were determined to get back into the game and Prejuce Nakoulma almost burst into the area only to be tugged down by Rabiu Mohammed, who was swiftly booked.

Florent Rouamba then saw a strike deflected wide before Nakoulma fired off target off of the resulting corner.

Asamoah Gyan was played in at the other end on the half-hour mark but he was unable to beat the goalkeeper from a tight angle.

The Stallions were passing the ball around swiftly but their finishing was poor and that was best displayed by Nakoulma in the 32nd minute when he was free in the middle but lashed a wild shot well over.

Agyemang Badu then had a penalty shout waved away in the 34th minute before Asante saw his strike deflected just wide after the ball fell to him inside the area.

Burkina Faso thought that they had equalised just minutes into the second period but the goalkeeper blocked the ball under the crossbar.

Gyan then hit the post with a flicked effort moments later before the Stallions drew level when Aristide Bance finished calmly after a terrific ball into the area.

Gyan thought that he had restored the lead in the 76th minute but his thundering header sailed inches wide of the top corner while Atsu worked the goalkeeper with seven minutes to go and Asamoah's shot was blocked on the follow up.

Extra-time would be needed and Afful saw his fierce strike tipped over in the 100th minute before Kakary Kone sent a header over at the other end.

Bance had a great chance in the 102nd minute after a great run which saw him dazzle two defenders but his final effort was wild.

Nakoulma would find the back of the net in the 105th minute but his lobbed effort was ruled out due to a high foot.

The end-to-end action continued in the second-half of extra-time with Bance again blasting off target from a decent position before Afful made a spectacular clearance off the line.

The Stallions were pressing for a late winner as Koulibaly saw a shot tipped over before Pitroipa earned a second yellow card for simulation after he went down in the area - although there seemed to be contact on the player.

Gyan could have snatched the winner in the 119th minute but his glancing header from close range sailed wide of the post as penalties were needed.

The Black Stars were oozing tension ahead of the shootout and Vorsah would miss the first spot-kick to give Burkina Faso the early advantage. Koulibaly would go on to see his effort saved later on as Ghana restored hope but Clottey missed the very next penalty and Bance calmly chipped home to restore the advantage. Badu then saw his effort saved as Burkina Faso went through to the final for the first time.S

Standard Bank Moment Of The Match: Bance stepped up for a high pressure penalty but instead of hammering the ball as hard as he could, he chipped his finish past the goalkeeper to calm Burkina Faso's nerves and heap pressure on Ghana.

Burkina Faso: Daouda Diakite, Mohamed Koffi, Bakary Kone, Paul Koulibaly, Mady Panandetiguiri, Djakaridja Kone, Charles Kabore, Florent Rouamba, Prejuce Nakoulma, Jonathan Pitroipa, Aristides Bance.

Ghana: Fatau Dauda, John Pantsil, Isaac Vorsah, John Boye, Harrison Afful, Emmanuel Agyemang Badu, Rabiu Mohammed, Kwadwo Asamoah, Christian Atsu, Mubarak Wakaso, Asamoah Gyan.