The first leg of the 2014 World Cup play-offs between Burkina Faso and Algeria delivered an absolutely crazy and intense match this Saturday. In a tightly contested and balanced first half, the Stallions managed to go into halftime with a 1-0 lead. Jonathan Pitroipa, capitalizing on a well-delivered cross from Lingani, deceived Mbolhi with a header. However, just before that, teammate Aristide Bancé missed a penalty opportunity.
The second half saw Algeria taking the spotlight. Sofiane Feghouli equalized, benefiting from some excellent work by Soudani. The game’s intensity heightened as the Fennecs once again found themselves trailing in the score, this time due to Djakaridja Koné. However, this lead for Burkina Faso lasted only 3 minutes. From a corner, Carl Medjani leveled the score for the second time in the game.
The return to Blida is anticipated to be challenging for Burkina Faso, with the Stallions conceding two goals at home. Despite the setbacks, at the end of the match, the referee awarded a penalty to the Stallions. Aristide Bancé, showing resilience after his initial miss, successfully converted the penalty. The jubilant Ouagadougou crowd celebrated the victory, but the 3-2 score puts Burkina Faso in a precarious position ahead of the return match. Algeria’s formidable reputation in Blida adds to the challenge, and a significant performance will be required in the second leg.
