DR Congo thrash stubborn Guinea

by Austin Ditlhobolo

Saturday Nov 11, 2017. 21:43

Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) beat Guinea 3-1 in the 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualification (CAF) Group A match at the Stade des Martyrs on Saturday.

The win sees DRC finish second in Group A and they fail to qualify, while Guinea finished third. Group A winners Tunisia booked their place in the finals.

The Leopards controlled the match from the start as they searched for an early goal, but National Elephants contained them.

Moussa Traore, the Guinea goalkeeper, had to be alert in the 17th minute after the visitors' defence was exposed.

Traore made a great save to deny Jonathan Bolingi, who was looking to make it 1-0 to DRC as pressure mounted on Guinea.

DRC were wasteful as Jacques Maghoma and Neeskens Kebano both missed the target with the half-time break approaching.

Guinea managed to contain DRC in the latter stages of the first-half and the score was 0-0 at the interval.

Tarore continued to be the busier of the two keepers as he denied Mubele 15 minutes into the second-half.

But Traore was finally beaten in the 61st minute when Guinea defender Ousmane Sidibe scored an own goal.

The National Elephants never lost hope and they managed to make it 1-1 10 minutes later through Keita Junior.

However, DRC grabbed two goals in stoppage time through Bolingi and Kebano, and the hosts emerged 3-1 winners.

DRC (0) 3 (Sidibe OG 61', Bolingi 90'+1, Kebano 90'+3)
Guinea (0) 1 (Junior 71')

DR Congo: Matampi, Tisserand, Mbemba, Issama, Maghoma (Mabidi 69'), Moke Abro, Kebano, Ngonda, Kabananga (N'Gbakoto 83') Mubele (Bokila 60'), Bolingi.

Guinea: Traoré, Sidibé, Baldé, Sylla, Conté, Condé, Landel (Junior 68'), Diallo, Kanté, Alkhali Bangoura (Lamah 79'), Kamano.