Ivory Coast vs. Algeria: Score, Grades and Reaction to AFCON 2015 Match

Wilfried Bony bagged a double, and Gervinho added a third as Ivory Coast saw themselves through to the Africa Cup of Nations 2015 semi-finals on Sunday by beating Algeria 3-1 in Malabo.

It was a fascinating match in which Bony's opener was cancelled out by Hilal Soudani's early second-half strike, which looked to have handed Algeria the momentum.

However, Bony struck again against the run of play, and Gervinho wrapped things up in stoppage time as Algeria pushed for the equaliser. 

Algeria settled the quicker of the two sides, claiming much of the early territory and looking the most threatening going forward.

However, Ivory Coast created a couple of decent chances, Max Gradel dragging wide after good solo work in the 19th minute before Serge Aurier's header rattled the bar four minutes later.

Bony then bagged the opener in the 26th minute, heading home a beautiful Gradel cross from the right having ghosted beyond a poorly organised defensive line. 

As the BBC's Farayi Mungazi notes, Christian Gourcuff's men had been playing themselves into the match well, and Bony's strike was a sucker punch for Algeria:

The tempo of the game dropped somewhat after the opening goal, and Ivory Coast went into the break one goal to the good.

On resumption, Algeria looked under the cosh but were handed a lifeline six minutes into the second half when a rare long ball paid significant dividends.

An unsubtle lump up the pitch fell to Riyad Mahrez as Ivory Coast's defence and keeper panicked. The Leicester City man then squared the ball across the box for Hilal Soudani to sweep home after Eric Bailly's failed clearance.

The Algerians took great heart from their equaliser and looked much improved, showing far better intent in attack and troubling Sylvain Gbohouo with some dangerous deliveries, per African football expert Jonathan Wilson:

Gbohouo made a glorious save to deny Soudani from pointblank range in the 68th minute. Two minutes later Bony delivered another hammer blow to put Ivory Coast 2-1 up.

The conspicuously poor Yaya Toure was the provider as he whipped in a free-kick for Bony to head in at the near post.

Ivory Coast then produced a masterclass in how not to defend a narrow lead as they allowed Algeria to swarm forward—substitute Islam Slimani's stretching header looping just over the bar in the 84th minute.

Faouzi Ghoulam's free-kick then drew a save from Gbohouo as Algeria dominated and desperately went in search of the equaliser.

However, their desperation proved their undoing, and Gervinho secured the win with a finely finished strike to finish off a swift counter-attack.

It was a matter of Ivory Coast managing to hang on for much of the latter stages, but they head into the semi-final to face Congo DR in a match where the Elephants must be seen as favourites.

Player Grades

Wilfried Bony: A

Bony took his two chances with assurance and aplomb as befitting one of the Premier League's most dangerous strikers.

He was well provided for by two terrific deliveries from Gradek and Toure, but he showed great heading ability, especially for the second which was beautifully looped home, per City Watch:

It does not bode well for DR Congo that Bony seems to have found his form, as he will be a real handful in the semi-final.

Yaya Toure: B-

Though he provided a terrific assist for the second, Toure was largely anonymous for much of the game, failing to really put his signature stamp on proceedings, with sports writer Colin Udoh calling for him to be substituted:

He seemed disinterested for much of the match and failed to dominate as he so often does.

Ivory Coast will need him to up his game if they are to go all the way given his ability to control the tempo of games.

Hilal Soudani: B

Soudani had to feed on scraps for much of the first half but took his second-half equaliser well.

He headed the long ball down to Mahrez to make the return, and while the Ivorian defenders gave a helping hand, Soudani did not panic in setting himself and firing home.

He could have put Algeria ahead just before Bony's second, but he could not quite force it past the keeper who spread himself wide as the ball ricocheted off him.  

Post-Match Reaction

WhoScored.com named Gradel its Man of the Match following the final whistle, providing his statistics from an impressive performance:

The Football Ramble's Marcus Speller believes Ivory Coast can finally go on to win the tournament this year, tentatively predicting Ghana as their opponents in the final:

Indeed, that would seem the most likely final, but AFCON 2015 has been hard to predict thus far and may well throw up another surprise in the last four.