Last minute drama before penalties
With just three minutes left, Zambia keeper Mweene seemed to be injured in a clash with Gervinho. A long ball had been lofted into the Zambia area and the
two players jumped into each other as they went for it.
The Zambia defence did well to clear the loose ball because their goal was momentarily unguarded. Mweene carried on despite his discomfort.
Penalty shootout
African Cup of Nations 2012
Zambia start the game brightly
Ivory Coast start to take control
Both sides have chances to win
Last minute drama
Scoring continues in sudden death
More classic matches
The match could not be decided in 90 minutes and it was still a stalemate after extra time so it headed for penalties.
The Ivory Coast went first which meant that they could really pile the pressure on the Zambians as long as they kept scoring. However if they missed the pressure could come right back onto them.
Newcastle midfielder Tiote took the first penalty for Ivory Coast. He sent Mweene the wrong way and put his team in the lead. The next seven penaltys were scored by both teams. Christopher Katongo, Mayuka, Chansa and Felix Katongo scored for Zambia and Wilfred Bony, Sol Bamba and Gradel scored for Ivory Coast making the score 4-4.
There was controversy over Bamba’s penalty for Ivory coast as Mweene saved the defender’s first kick but had jumped off his line so the penalty was retaken. Bamba made no mistake with his second chance and fired the ball into the roof of the net.
Drogba holds his nerve
Drogba who had missed a penalty in the 90 minutes and in a previous game in the tournament was the man who stepped forward to take Ivory Coast’s final penalty. He held his nerve and restored the Ivorians lead. They had netted five penalties out of five.
It was extraordinary that a game that had gone 120 minutes without a goal had led to a penalty shootout where every player had scored.
The score was 5-4 to Ivory Coast and there was a little bit more pressure on the next kicker with every penalty that was scored. If Zambia didn’t score their last penalty Ivory Coast would be Champions.
Surprisingly it was Mweene, their goalkeeper who stepped up to take the vital kick. He sent his opposite number the wrong way and calmly rolled the ball into the left corner of the goal.
Someone finally misses a penalty in sudden death – Read more
African Cup of Nations 2012
Zambia start the game brightly
Ivory Coast start to take control
Both sides have chances to win
Last minute drama
Scoring continues in sudden death
More classic matches
