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Manucho stuns Senegal

Manucho stuns Senegal


Manucho stuns Senegal

Man Utd striker Manucho stunned Senegal as his Angola side defeated the Senegalese side 3-1 thanks to his two goals in Tamale to go top of Group D. Manucho has now bagged three this tournament.

Senegal threatened on 18 minutes when Marseille striker Mamadou Niang crossed from near the halfway line to find captain Diouf free inside the area - only for the Bolton Wanderers man to head over from 10 yards out.

Two minutes later another deep free kick from Diouf had the intended effect - when Souleymane Diawara headed back across the face of goal to allow Abdoulaye Faye to nod in from close-range.

Despite Angola having much of the possession it was Senegal who remained more ruthless with the ball, and they went close again when Frederic Mendy missed a great chance to volley home at the far post.

Coach Henri Kasperczak's men were proving a dominating physical presence in midfield, and a hefty two-footed tackle from Newcastle United's Faye led to the goalscorer receiving a yellow card.

With four minutes remaining of the half, an inviting cross from Mendy forced Luis 'Lama' Joao to come flying out of his goal to deny an on-rushing Diouf.

Angola hit back after the break though, when the sprightly Nsimba 'Ze Kalanga' Baptista broke free on the right flank and crossed to Manucho, who powered a header past Joao to level, and claim his second goal of the tournament.

Ze Kalanga was becoming a threat prompting Senegal's defensive enforcer Moustapha Bayal Sall picked up a yellow card for a high and dangerous tackle on the wing man.

With both teams pushing for a win Senegal went close next when great movement and interplay between Diouf and Kamara played in Niang, who blazed over.

Fulham's Kamara then saw his daisy-cutter whistle past the post from thirty yards before Angola pressed with Maurito, who fired a blistering, dipping shot from 35 yards which forced Sylva to pull off a great reflex save.

The turnaround was on when Manucho capitalised on Sylva's failure to punch clear a corner and slammed home from close range for his brace.

Al Ahly forward Flavio completed a great second-half performance by Angola, when he headed in his side's third off a cross from Yamba Asha on 76 minutes.