Algeria Humiliates The Gambia

The Desert Foxes of Algeria on Friday recovered nicely from a disappointing 2014 World Cup qualifying loss away to Mali with a convincing 4-1 victory over the Scorpions of The Gambia.

The Scorpions’ of qualifying to the 2013 Cup of Nations is now over, as the Algerians in the preliminary round disgraced them.

The Gambia first drew one all with Morocco in the 2014 Brazil World Cup in the qualifiers before they lost to Tanzania 2-1.

A brace from rising striker, Islam Slimani, and two others from Foued Kadir and El Arbi Hillel Soudani gave Algeria a 4-1 victory over The Gambia at the Mustapha Tchaker Stadium in Blida on Friday.

Unlike the match in Banjul, the Algerians were on top within the first minutes, with Kadir’s persistence paying off as he created a chance for Slimani and then cleaned it up when the ball fell to him in the penalty box. Just four minutes later, Slimani got on the score-sheet as well, scoring a powerful full volley after a well-executed knockdown header by Soudani.

Up, 4-1 on aggregate, the Algerians suffered a lapse in concentration that The Gambians didn’t forgive, as Saikou Gassama was given too much time and space to try his luck from a distance. The 18-year-old’s right footed blast clanged off the underside of Rais M’Bolhi’s crossbar and passed the goal-line to reduce the deficit for the Scorpions who still had plenty of work to do.

With the absence of most of The Gambia`s first team players, Algeria regained control over the midfield but struggled to create clear-cut scoring opportunities until the beginning of the second half.

Fresh out of the dressing rooms, the Fennecs heeded the instructions of coach Vahid Halilhodzic as Soudani once again played provider for Slimani who got his second of the match on 48 minutes.

Sixty-five minutes into the game, Soudani got his own finish to add to his two assistants, getting on the end of a probing Mehdi Mostefa-cross at the back post.

The goal took the sting out of the match as it was clear that there was no way back for the Scorpions and the north Africans held on to a comfortable 6-2 aggregate victory, sending them into the final round of 2013 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.