Ivory Coast came from behind to hold DR Congo to a 2 -2 draw in their Africa Cup of Nations Group C clash on Friday at the Stade d’Oyem Stadium in Gabon.
Neesken Kabano opened the scoring in the 17th minute before Wilfried Bony brought the defending champions level with a header in the 26th minute. Leopards restored the lead two minutes later through Kabananga in a similar way as Serey Die restored parity moments after the start of second half for the Elephants.
DR Congo were the better of the two sides in the opening half pinning the Ivorians to their halve with their possesive play.It was just in the 9th minute when they got superb first goal delivered from a longish throw from the left which was well controlled by Kabananga in the box,flickeing the ball back to Kebano, who arrived late in the box and then, as it bounced, belted it across Gbohouo and into the far corner.
Wilfried Bony header in the 26th minute brought Ivory Coast to life.It came from a curl from Gradel left wing corner toward the near post, where Bony rose empatically to power a header across the goal and into the net.
It only took a span of two minutes and DR Congo came back in front.Tisserand started the move by pinging a flat crossfield ball to Mubele on the right who ran at Traore before teasing a delightful cross beyond the far post, where Kabananga was criminally unmarked and rose to head firmly past Gbohouo for second goal.
Ivory Coast who knew a defeat would automatically lead them to elimination looked dangerous as they tried to level matters again with the half-time break fast approaching but Gradel effort went over the bar.
Back from the break, the Ivorians organized themselves and kept the Congolese defence busier.But their push was however easily encountered with as in 55th minute ,Mubele missed a sensational solo goal when he retrieved a nothing ball on the right before turning infield and muscling past Kanon and Gradel. That took him into the box, where he swerved away from Kessie and struck a rising drive from a narrow angle that rippled the side netting.
Despite that, the Ivorians also made some positive moments upfront like on the hour-mark when a blunder by Issam gifted the ball to Kessie but the Congolese defence worked around to weather the storm.
After several unsuccessful attempts, the Ivorians finally found their breakthrough on 67th minutes.The Elephants captain Serey Die surged forward from midfield before hitting a 20-yard shot that took a big deflection off Tisserand wrongfooting the keeper Matampi to restore parity.
Few minutes after the goal,DR Congo started to look tired, with an Ivory Coast winner looking increasingly likely but their defence was always reading Ivorians move.
Both sides held on to share the spoils and will not expecting to trail as they look for the next match of the day between Morroco and Togo.
Line-ups:
Ivory Coast: Gbohouo; Aurier, Kanon, Bailly, Traore; Doukoure, Kessie, Serey Die; Zaha, Bony, Gradel.
DR Congo:Matampi; Bope, Issama, Ikoko, Tisserand; Maghoma, Mbemba; Kabananga, Kebano, Mubele; Mbokani.
