Gyan goal crushes Angola's dreams

An early goal from Asamoah Gyan crushed the dreams of the host nation as Ghana eliminated Angola 1-0 in their African Nations Cup quarter-final yesterday.

In the other quarter-final, substitute Hameur Bouazza earned Algeria a 3-2 extra-time win over Ivory Coast and a place in the semi-finals.

Gyan struck a perfectly weighted through ball from Kwadwo Asamoah wide of Angola's goalkeeper Carlos Fernandez for the decisive goal in the 16th minute.

But the home team squandered several chances to turn around the score and have only themselves to blame for not making better use of their opportunities.

Tall striker Manucho was a major culprit, missing with a close shot that skied high over the Ghana goal on the stroke of half-time and then directing a 73rd-minute header wide of goal.

He also had a header saved by Ghana's goalkeeper Richard Kingson in the 30th minute, finding himself unmarked at the back post after a cross but directing the ball straight at the keeper.

Near the end of the match there were two more chances for the hosts as centre-back Kali went forward to join the attack. He missed a header on the stroke of half-time and had a bouncing effort cleared off the line by Isaac Vorsah deep into stoppage time.

"This is what happens in football. I tried my best," said Manucho immediately after the match in a pitch-side television interview.

Ghana's only first-half chance provided the goal, after a visionary pass from Udinese's highly-rated Asamoah. After the interval they bothered the Angola goalkeeper on only two occasions with half chances.

"We did much better than Ghana, especially in the second half, but we couldn't break them down," said Angola's coach Manuel Jose.

Ghana, the last Nations Cup host to lose in the last eight 10 years ago, will next play in Thursday's semi-final against the winner of today's quarter-final between Nigeria and Zambia in Lubango.

Algeria midfielder Bouazza headed home two minutes into extra-time after Algeria twice came from behind in a thrilling tie between two World Cup-bound teams.

The Algerians will next play either defending champions Egypt or Cameroon, who meet today.

Karim Matmour cancelled out Salomon Kalou's fourth-minute opener for Ivory Coast just before the break, only for substitute Abdulkader Keita to fire into the top corner one minute from time.

But Algeria's Madjid Bougherra headed home one minute into stoppage time to force the game into the extra 30 minutes.

Today's quarter-finals

18.00 Egypt vs Cameroon. 20.30 Zambia vs Nigeria.