|
Post by o on Jan 31, 2013 13:37:50 GMT 1
The reffing is bad, the playacting, diving and rolling around is awful, and the football isn't great.
|
|
Tom
Member
*Of Royal Blood*
Posts: 15,419
|
Post by Tom on Feb 2, 2013 12:14:03 GMT 1
The reffing is bad, the playacting, diving and rolling around is awful, and the football isn't great. Watched Zambia's 2nd match to do a bit of scouting on Sunzu their CB who Reading were/are trying to sign (and he was very impressive). The 2nd half was enjoyable, but that was just as well as the 1st half was shocking! No team really looked like scoring, there was a poor penalty from Mikel which did well to even hit the post, plus a poor pitch. Had Zambia got through I may have watched them in the knockout stages, but from that one game plus your comments it's good that i've not seen any other games!
|
|
|
Post by paulgilb on Feb 2, 2013 23:52:31 GMT 1
First 2 QFs:
Ghana 2-0 Cape Verde South Africa 1-1 Mali (Mali won 3-1 on pens)
Ghana took the lead early in the second half thanks to a marginal penalty (for which the offender should arguably have been sent off). Despite being the better team, Cape Verde were unable to equalise (thanks in part to some shockingly bad refereeing from Mauritius's Rajindraparsad Seechurn). Ghana added a second goal towards the end after Cape Verde sent their entire team (including goalie) into the Ghana half for a corner.
South Africa dominated the first half, taking the lead after half an hour, before Mali equalised in the second half. South Africa missed their 2nd, 3rd, and 4th penalties, allowing Mali to knock them out.
|
|
|
Post by paulgilb on Feb 3, 2013 23:58:23 GMT 1
Last 2 QFs:
Cote d'Ivoire 1-2 Nigeria Burkina Faso 1-0 Togo (AET)
Nigeria knocked out favourites Cote d'Ivoire thanks to a goal in each half. Burkina Faso beat Togo (on a very dusty pitch!) thanks to a headed goal at the end of the first period of extra time.
Semi-final line-up:
Mali v Nigeria Burkina Faso v Ghana
|
|
Paddy
Member
*Pick up a P..P...P.. Paddy*
Best newcomer 2009
Posts: 19,336
|
Post by Paddy on Feb 4, 2013 9:57:35 GMT 1
Dusty... sandy don't you mean? Artificial turf with sand.
Its wide open to who will win. But isn't every African cup of nations.
|
|
|
Post by o on Feb 4, 2013 13:45:00 GMT 1
Ghana are favourites I think, but that doesn't mean a lot Great free kick by Emenike in the Nigeria game!
|
|
|
Post by paulgilb on Feb 7, 2013 0:24:37 GMT 1
Semi-finals:
Mali 1-4 Nigeria Ghana 1-1 Burkina Faso (Burkina Faso won 3-2 on penalties)
The Ghana v Burkina Faso game was marked by some shocking refereeing by Tunisia's Slim Jedidi (not the only rubbish ref that Tunisia has produced over the years). Firstly, he denied BF a clear penalty early on, then awarded Ghana a dodgy penalty (which was scored) shortly after. He did partly atone for this by denying Ghana another penalty towards the end of the first half.
BF levelled in the second half, and took the game to extra time. During extra time, Jedidi first took a leaf out of Urs Meier's book by ruling out a perfectly valid BF goal (curiously scored at almost exactly the same point of the match, and in the same goal, as their winner against Togo), then took a leaf out of Byron Moreno's book by booking Jonathan Pitroipa for a second time despite the fact that he had just been fouled in the penalty area. Despite all this, BF managed to win on penalties, booking their place in the final where they will meet Nigeria (who had a much more comfortable win over Mali) for a second time. Ghana and Mali will meet for the second time in the 3rd-place match.
Ghana become the 5th team to exit the competition without officially losing a match (they still have the 3rd-place match that they could lose, though).
Interestingly, BF only made 1 substitution in the whole match.
|
|
|
Post by paulgilb on Feb 8, 2013 19:14:22 GMT 1
Odds to win (thanks to http://www.oddschecker.com):
1/2 Nigeria 7/4 Burkina Faso
|
|
|
Post by o on Feb 8, 2013 19:51:39 GMT 1
The favourites haven't done so well so far, come on burkina faso!
|
|
|
Post by paulgilb on Feb 10, 2013 0:05:37 GMT 1
3rd-place playoff:
Mali 3-1 Ghana
Just like last year, Mali beat Ghana in the play-off having lost to them in the group stage. Mali scored in the first half and again early in the second half. Ghana then missed a penalty (just what is it with Ghana and penalties?), before scoring with 10 minutes to go (with a quite spectacular goal). Mali then clinched victory in stoppage time with a 3rd goal.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 10, 2013 15:24:18 GMT 1
Suarez is still smug over that handball at the World Cup against Ghana if that ITV interview before an FA Cup tie is anything to go by.
He's a blatant cheat and that was the start of it, he seems to love cheating and winning with it. I would have been fuming if I was Ghanian or a Mansfield fan.
"WE PLAY FOOTBALL" to quote a banner made by a few Dutch supporters when they met Uruguay in the semi. I see they're struggling in their World Cup campaign, hopefully they're being found out and Venezuela will make their debut.
|
|
|
Post by o on Feb 10, 2013 16:04:50 GMT 1
We were fuming, but more at the officials that deemed it accidently, he scored a GOAL with it, the ball wa going away from the goal! Anyhoo, dont get me started That Ghana goal was good, they blamed the goalie, but it moved!
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 10, 2013 18:29:07 GMT 1
Know how you feel what with some of the cr@p officials we've had since Premier League football came to Wales!. Would have been top 10 in our first season if it wasn't for some of the onsides that shouldn't have been.
Ghana have scored some good goals in the tournament, shame they didn't get to tonight's final, but still good to see Nigeria finally up there in Africa's top teams again.
|
|
|
Post by Panda on Feb 10, 2013 19:02:00 GMT 1
Fact of the day: 7 of the last 9 World Cups haven't featured the reigning African champions...
|
|
|
Post by paulgilb on Feb 10, 2013 23:51:25 GMT 1
Final:
Nigeria 1-0 Burkina Faso
The match, played on a Sunday, was won by a Sunday - Sunday Mba to be precise, who scored just before half time.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 11, 2013 1:10:39 GMT 1
I always like the underdog to win, but at least can be contempt with a stronger possibility the winners will be at the next World Cup. Egypt who make up most of that 7/9 tally, are seemingly not too interested in the AFCON as they are now starting to realize they are unable to concentrate on both. Notice the number of teams that get to the semis of this competition or better, but never get to the World Cup.
Zambia being top of their WC group brings extra hope.
|
|
|
Post by Panda on Feb 11, 2013 19:31:34 GMT 1
One refreshing thing about the winning goal yesterday - there were two fouls in the build-up. Both times the Nigerian player stayed on their feet and they were ultimately rewarded.
|
|