AFCON 2021: Julio Tavares crucified Shanko with a head at close range. Cape Verde seized second place in group A of CAN 2021 by dominating Ethiopia (1-0) this Sunday at Olembe Stadium after Host country Cameroon’s (2-1) victory against Burkina Faso.
Returning to CAN for the first time since 2015, the Blue Sharks entered the game well, putting pressure on the opposing camp. This good start was rewarded with the failed back pass from Tamene, which benefited former Dijon player Julio Tavares.
While he seemed to leave alone on goal, the attacker of Al-Faisaly (Saudi Arabia) was dried by Bayeh, first sanctioned with a simple yellow card and then finally excluded by the referee Helder De Carvalho (12th). After resorting to the VAR and several minutes of reflection, the official considered that the Ethiopian was in the position of the last defender.
At ten, the Antelopes, well in place, nevertheless resisted the opposing assaults well and the men of Bubista, tested positive for Covid-19 and replaced by his deputy Humberto Bettencourt, showed themselves short of imagination, drafts, and not very dangerous. Ethiopia, however, got into difficulty and came close to the correctional on a centre of Rodrigues that Yesuf diverted to his own goal. But Ethiopian goalkeeper Shanko saved the furniture by performing a reflex parade. Not the last.
Cape Verde: Julio Tavares crucified Shanko with a head at close range
After a failed recovery by Julio Tavares at close range, the goalkeeper indeed repelled the roundabout attempt by Rocha Santos. Despite a fear over a failed back pass from Pico which forced goalkeeper Rosa to intervene in the feet of Abubeker Nasir, the Cape Verdeans saw their succession of chances rewarded before the break. On a cross from the left, Rodrigues handed over to Julio Tavares who crucified Shanko with a head at close range (0-1, 45 e +1).
After a brief Ethiopian awakening after returning from the locker room, the Blue Sharks ended the match at a slow pace, attacking at a trot and they failed to score the goal of the break, within particular two more saves from Shanko against Rocha Santos. Failing to convince, Cape Verde provides the essential before facing the two big pieces of the group: Burkina Faso on Thursday then Cameroon. Ethiopia will bring down its last card Thursday against the host country.