Africa Cup of Nations Update : Ivory Coast 5 - 0 Guinea

Five-Star Ivory Coast Sail Past Guinea

Ivory Coast 5 - 0 Guinea While the scoreline slightly flatters the Ivorians, the Elephants are deservedly through to the semi-finals after a very convincing win over Guinea...

Despite being without influential captain Pascual Feindouno, Guinea ran the Ivory Cosat close for portions of this game, only to succumb to a late onslaught from the far superior Elephants.

In truth, Cote d'Ivoire 100% deserved their win, even though the margin of victory was something quite out of the ordinary based on the performance.

After a cagey start, Kalou and Drogba began to turn the screw, with the former having a great chance to open the scoring 13 minutes in. However, despite being unmarked, his effort was poor.

Dindane then came close with a header, although the opener was yet to come.

It eventually did 25 minutes in, when Kader Keita tiptoed into the box and, rather than play the ball across goal, battered it past Kemoko Camara and into the net, running into an inflatable Pepsi can located trackside by way of celebration.

Guinea were on the back foot, but they were able to hold out for the rest of the half.

Camara kept his side in it with a tremendous save from Aruna and then Kalou on the rebound, but the Syli Stars themselves brought out the best in Barry via a Bangoura solo effort on the counter.

But it was clear the the Ivory Coast were in the asendancy, closing the half with a Keita effort that rolled just wide and a tremendous save from Camara to deny Drogba.

After the break, though, Guinea improved further, and could have equalised when Youla was left unmarked to tip Bangoura's cross just wide on the volley.

On the hour mark, Jabi's effort hit the side-netting after a deep free-kick, and despite the Ivory Coast's clear superiority, it seemed that there was life in the Guineans' challenge yet.

However, there was not, for what followed was nothing short of a goal blitz.

Aruna Kone should have made it 2-0 after rounding the 'keeper 22 minutes from time, only to blast his effort wide, but Drogba made no such mistake two minutes later with a strong, solo run reminiscent of some of his better Chelsea goals.

Then Kalou emulated Kone by rounding the 'keeper, but the Chelsea man different from the Sevillista by being able to put the ball in the net, thus ending the game as a contest.

A contest, yes, but not a spectacle. Ten minutes from time, Guinea inexplicably stood off as Toure tore towards the touchline, eventually kutting it back for Kalou, who wasted nothing in claiming his second goal.

Then, Baki Kone made it 5-0 with a tremendous twenty-yarder, with punch-drunk Guinea having well and truly wilted in the face of enormous late pressure.