Les Écureuils of Benin marched to a 2-0 victory over Madagascar in FIFA World Cup qualifying on Thursday in Cotonou, moving Benin to the top of Group J with a two-point gap separating them from closest rivals Democratic Republic of Congo. Regular contributors Jodel Dossou and Steve Mounié provided the goals for the Squirrels while mathematically eliminating Madagascar from contention to set up a decisive clash for Benin at the DRC on Sunday. A draw or better will ensure Benin advances to the final round.
Madagascar got off to a disastrous start that effectively doomed their hopes of advancing out of Group J, but the Barea have been competitive throughout the campaign and Thursday was no different. Within the first two minutes, the visitors had a brilliant opportunity to open the scoring. A cross from the left flank was deflected by a retreating Benin defender and the ball fell right to Romain Metanire, whose finish went wide of the far post.
The visitors had another chance in the 23rd minute when excellent work on the dribble from Njiva Rakotoharimalala opened up space for a shot from just outside the Benin penalty area, but Njiva’s shot was tipped over by keeper Saturnin Allagbe. In the 40th minute, a controversial incident saw rough play between Benin’s Sessi D’Almeida and Fabrice Rakotondraibe result in D’Almeida throwing the ball into Rakotondraibe’s chest before the Malagasy forward responded with a headbutt. Shockingly, Rakotondraibe got away with only a yellow card while D’Almeida escaped without a booking at all.
Benin found an important goal just before halftime to deal a crucial blow to the Malagasy resistance. Amiens attacker Charbel Gomez sent in a cross from the left flank that skipped past multiple players to Dossou on the edge of the Malagasy penalty area. Dossou slipped by a defender before his low shot found its way through a crowd and past Madagascar keeper Melvin Adrien.
The match continued to be even into the second half, and Madagascar nearly found an equalizer when a punt from Adrien bounced in between Benin keeper Allagbe and defender Khaled Adenon, causing the two players to collide. Loic Lapoussin was there to collect the ball for Madagascar but his shot was well saved by a retreating Adenon with Allagbe out of his goal.
The Squirrels put the match away in the 79th minute by taking advantage of an error from the Malagasy side. A turnover in midfield allowed Benin to break out for a quick counter attack, and the ball found its way to an open Dossou. Dossou could have shot on goal himself but unselfishly slid a low cross to Mounié, who applied a calm finish past the scrambling Adrien to wrap up the three points.
Highlights of the match are a click away in the link below.
