Algeria vs. Burkina Faso: World Cup Play-off Score, Recap and Stats – Bleacher Report

Algeria reached the 2014 World Cup with a 1-0 victory over Burkina Faso in the second leg of its African World Cup play-off in Bilda.
Trailing 3-2 from the away leg in Ouagadougou, Algeria captain Madjid Bougherra scored the only goal of the match four minutes into the second half.
It saw the North Africans progress on the away goals rule and means they join Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Cameroon and Ghana as the representatives from the continent in Brazil.
Those are the same five African qualifiers that were in South Africa four years ago, and it is the fourth time that Algeria has reached the finals since 1982.
Burkina Faso was looking to make its first appearance in the finals and the landlocked West African country held the advantage after Aristide Bance scored a controversial late penalty in the home leg.
The “Etalons” (Stallions) thought they had made the dream start when they had the ball in the net within two minutes, but the goal was ruled out for offside.
They failed to conjure up a worthwhile chance in the rest of the half while the hosts spurned a great chance to take the lead when an unmarked Islam Slimani headed wide from close range.
Former Glasgow Rangers and Sheffield Wednesday defender Bougherra was lucky to still be on the pitch after a horrendous two-footed lunge at the end of the first period that only saw him earn a yellow card.

Bougherra took full advantage of his reprieve in the 49th minute when Burkina Faso failed to deal with a free-kick. The skipper poked his effort towards goal and Bakary Kone hacked it off his own line, only for the ball to strike Bougherra full in the face and nestle in the net.

The visitors made three changes and brought on their top striker Alain Traore, who returned from injury, and they came perilously close in injury time to the goal that would have taken them to Brazil.
El Arabi Soudani hacked a corner against his own post, but Algeria held on to extend their unbeaten streak at the Mustapha Tchaker Stadium to 22 games and seal a place in their fourth finals.
Burkina were felt to rue their lack of threat in the final third.
As per the BBC report, “Burkina were unable to muster any attacking impetus as they were forced back by high pressing from Algeria and simply could not come up with any creative ideas.”

Key Stats (as per Soccerway)
Corners—4 vs. 3
Shots on target—3 vs. 0
Shots wide—8 vs. 2
Fouls—14 vs. 22
Possession—58 percent vs. 42 percent
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