BRAVE MALAWI OUT OF NATIONS CUP
Malawi went down 3-1 to Mali in their final Group A match at the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations on Monday and in doing so exit the tournament in the first round.
But the COSAFA hopefuls had chances to draw the game, a result which in the end would have seen them qualify for the quarterfinals. But with Angola and Algeria playing out a tame goalless draw in the group's other game, they ensured they would both advance to next round, no matter what Mali did.
Mali were ahead inside the first 37 seconds in a disastrous start for Malawi. Goalkeeper Swadick Sanudi fluffed his clearance straight into the path of Kanoute, who coolly volleyed the ball home from all of 35-yards.
As if that start wasn't bad enough, the Malawians were two goals down inside three minutes as Keita crashed home a brilliant free-kick, also from the 35-yard mark. This time Sanudi had no chance as the ball nestled in the top corner.
Davie Banda put a shot wide for The Flames as they finally registered a chance, while Keita had two more efforts at the other end, one off target and the other a comfortable save for Sanudi.
Esau Kanyenda fired straight at Mali keeper Mahamadou Sidibe, but the best chance of the remainder of the half fell to Mali striker Mamadou Bagayoko, who put his header wide with the goal at his mercy. He had so much time and space he could have controlled the cross and looked to beat Sanudi with a shot.
But instead of finding themselves 3-0 up, Mali were pegged back to 2-1 just before the hour-mark as big striker Russel Mwafulirwa finally netted after a massive goal-mouth scramble in which Sidibe twice saved goal-bound efforts.
Sanudi made a fine save from Keita soon afterwards, having to be on his toes with the swirling rocket from the Barcelona midfielder.
Mali were denied a stonewall penalty when Kanyenda up-rooted Keita in the penalty-area with a lunge that was lucky not to earn him a red card. In the end the referee took no action at all, much to the amazement of even the Malawians, you suspect.
Bagayoko wasted a number of good shooting opportunities by putting them in the stands as Mali tried to restore their two-goal lead, but it was Malawi who should have drawn level.
Mwafulirwa put his header over from two yards out with the goal at his mercy. It was an extraordinary miss with Sidibe beaten, as the striker headed down into the ground and over with nothing in front of him.
Instead it was Bagayoko to scored the game's fourth goal as he headed home Modibo Maiga's cross, with Malawian defenders a scarcity as they pushed forward in search of the equaliser.
Sidibe made an excellent save to keep out a close-range shot from Robert Ngambi, while Mwafulirwa went agonisingly close again in the dying seconds.