Senegal 1 Angola 3: United-bound Manucho startles Senegal

Brian Homewood
Monday 28 January 2008 01:00 GMT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

This election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.

The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.

Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.

Manucho scored two more goals as Angola came from behind for a surprise win over Senegal at the African Nations Cup yesterday.

Abdoulaye Fayé gave Senegal a half-time time lead with a header midway through the first half of a pulsating game.

Manucho, who signed for Manchester United last month subject to obtaining a work permit, headed the equaliser five minutes after the restart and put Angola ahead from a goalmouth scramble in the 67th minute for his third goal of the tournament.

Flavio completed a stunning turnaround with another header in the 77th minute to leave Angola level on points with Tunisia at the top of Group D. Meanwhile, Senegal are facing the possibility of an early exit.

"The whole team lost concentration. It could happen to any team at any time," said the Senegal captain, El Hadji Diouf.

The Angola coach, Luis Oliveira Goncalves, said: "The great team does not always win the big battles. We won and we won well."

Angola began brightly but Senegal went ahead in the 20th minute, one minute after Diouf had wasted an excellent chance by putting a free header wide of the post. Diomansy Kamara's free-kick was headed back across goal by Souleymane Diawara and Faye rose at the far post to head in.

Senegal could have gone further ahead but Frederic Mendy missed his kick from Kamara's through ball and Diouf failed to make proper contact after Mendy's low cross found him free at the near post.

The game turned when Manucho, who had made little headway against the Senegal defence in the first half, equalised in the 50th minute with a powerful far-post header from Ze Kalanga's cross.

Senegal, lucky not to have Moustapha Bayal Sall sent off for a vicious lunge at Ze Kalanga, were twice close to regaining the lead when Mamadou Niang fired wide from Diouf's lay-off and Kamara threatened with a low, 25-yard shot.

Angola's Maurito had a dipping, 30-yard shot tipped over by Tony Sylva before Manucho put them ahead in the 67th minute, forcing the ball home after a goalmouth scramble. Ten minutes later, Flavio added the third when he rose unmarked to head in Gilberto's cross from the left.

In the day's other game in Group D, Tunisia powered to a 3-1 win over South Africa with Brazilian-born striker Francileudo dos Santos scoring twice. Tunisia were 3-0 up inside 34 minutes, Chaouki Ben Saada getting their other goal, Katlego Mphela grabbing a late consolation for South Africa.

Senegal: Sylva; Beye, Diawara, Fayé, Ndaw (Sougou, 84); Mendy (Gueye, 63), Diop, Kamara (Camara, 70), Sall; Diouf, Niang.

Angola: Lama; Airosa, Kali, Asha; Marques, Ze Kalanga, Andre, Maurito, Gilberto (Mateus, 84); Flavio, Manucho (Loco, 88).

Referee: D Haimoudi (Algeria).

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in