A fruitful final twenty minutes saw Gabon surge past Angola in Franceville on Monday to give the Panthers their first win in FIFA World Cup qualifying. Arsenal star forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang led the Gabonese to victory by scoring the opener before providing the dangerous cross that led to an own goal and put the match away. Both teams are likely out of contention for top spot in Group F but Gabon keep their faint hopes alive with the victory.
The majority of opportunities fell to the hosts as Gabon had revenge on their mind for the defeat they suffered in Luanda earlier this week. Aubameyang, who was held in check in that match, looked particularly determined to show his class. In the 17th minute he nearly tallied the opener when he leaped onto an excellent early cross from Lloyd Palun, but his header was off target. Debutant defender David Sambissa nearly scored off a header himself a few minutes before halftime but could not direct his effort on goal.
Angola’s one chance came in the first minute after the whistle to start the second half. 19-year-old Primeiro de Agosto star Zini made an impressive dribbling run into the left side of the Gabonese penalty area and drew keeper Jean Amonome out before laying a tempting low ball across the goal mouth, but fullback Johann Obiang got there first to escort the ball out of play. Ten minutes later Gabon halftime substitute Levy Madinda set up an open header from six yards out for Sambissa but the attempted finish went over.
Aubameyang was not to be denied for the entirety of the two matchups this week, and he finally turned the style on in the final stretch of the match. In the 73rd minute a Gabon corner kick was cleared just outside the area, where Madinda played to a surprisingly wide open Aubameyang on the left side of the penalty area. The Arsenal player had time to shape up his finish and smashed a shot into the roof of the net to spark celebration. In the final ten minutes, Aubameyang was at it again when he dropped his shoulder and blew by defender Gaspar to get to the end line and send a ball across the goal, finding debutant Alex Mocketou-Moussounda flying in for a headed finish to secure the three points for Gabon.
Highlights are in the link below.
