GOALS from Javier Balboa and Ivan Salvador ensured host nation Equatorial Guinea reached the quarterfinals of the 2015 Africa Nations Cup, beating Gabon 2-0 in Bata.

Balboa scored from the penalty spot before substitute Slavador netted from close range, while Congo beat Burkina Faso 2-1 in Group A’s other game. Congo and Equatorial Guinea go through.

The game started with some big tackles and strong challenges going in as the match official had to make his presence felt right from the start.

From a free kick in a good position after 8 minutes, the host nation had the first chance on goal. But Javier Balboa’s free kick was way off target and flew over the crossbar.

In the 18th minute Equatorial Guinea made a good early attacking move when Javier Bilbao slid in an early cross to Raul Bosio at the far post, but the Gabon defence just got there first to kill the danger.

Two minutes later and Pierre Aubamyenag should have netted when he got onto the end of a great cross to power a header goalwards, but Felipe Ovono made a stunning save.

In the 29th minute Felipe Ovono made another strong save, this time to deny Biyogo Poko from close range after he was put through behind the Equatorial Guinea defence line.

In the 37th minute the dangerous Nsue stayed onside as he received a through pass and found himself heading towards goal, but instead of shooting he tried to cross and got the weight of his pass totally wrong.

Six minutes into the second half and Felipe Ovono again made an important save, this time tipping over Frederic Bulot’s curling free kick.

But then in the 53rd minute Balboa exploded into the danger area after making a gliding run past a defender and he was tripped on his way through by Lloyd Palun.

Balboa got up and took the penalty himself and blasted the ball past Didier Ovono to open the scoring.

Gabon came close to an equaliser in the 58th minute when Bulot got onto the end of an inviting cross by Aubameyang, but he was leaning back and sent the ball over the crossbar.

In the 77th minute Balboa should have got his second goal of the night when he was played in behind the fullback and had just the keeper to beat, but somehow his shot was kept out by Ovono’s outstretched legs.

But the hosts found their second goal in the 86th minute through substitute Ivan Salvador who popped up to net the rebound after Emilio Nsue’s shot was saved following a cross by Balboa.

At the end of the game, the supporters erupted as the host nation celebrated reaching the quarterfinals for the first time since 1992. — SuperSport

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