Cote d’Ivoire were shockingly beaten 4-3 at home in Abidjan by DR Congo in 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying group stage on Wednesday.
The Leopards went into the break with a 3-1 lead but the home side returned stronger to level the scoreline at 3-3 before conceding a last-minute goal that stunned the fans.
Buoyed by a 2-1 win over the Congolese in the reverse fixture, the Elephants began with strong ambitions to get the job done and conserve second spot in Group D, after Cameroon edged Sierra Leone 2-0 in Yaounde earlier on to keep stranglehold on the group.
After balanced quarter-hour exchanges, DR Congo began exploiting the potholes in the Ivorian defence and tested their post with a couple of long-range strikes as Yaya Toure and company focused their attention up field.
French-born midfielder Neeskens Keban handed the Leopards a dream start in the 21st minute after topping off his side’s pacy and vigilant counterattacks with a fine finish into the Ivorian net.
Four minutes later, Yaya Toure answered for Cote d’Ivoire after claiming a loose ball in the midfield and dropping deep to the edge of the box before unleashing his effort past DR Congo goalkeeper Robert Kidiaba.
Inspired by the equaliser, the Ivorians poured forth in search of a second goal while leaving gaps behind, as inexperienced centre-back Frank Kessi struggled to contain the intermittent counters from the Leopards.
Congo scored two goals in quick succession before the 40thminute, each coming through blunders in the Ivorian backline.
Junior Kabananga was set up to the right edge of the Ivorian box, completely unmarked. He adjusted his foot and powered home his finish past Copa Barry to make it 2-1 for DR Congo. A minute later, Jeremy Bokila made it 3-1 with a superb volley after overwhelming Serge Aurier near the box.
Issues seemed to have compounded for Cote d’Ivoire after Kessi picked a straight red card for blocking a goalbound Congolese player upon their return from the break. However, the Elephants quickly seized the game and pushed the visitors on to the defensive.
Their efforts finally yielded fruit when Salomon Kalou was thrown into the fray by a desperate Herve Renard - the former Chelsea winger hit a double within three minutes (69th and 72nd) to level and revive spirits for his side.
With one man down and pegging it at 3-3, Cote d’Ivoire maintained a continuous flow of traffic towards the Leopards’ post in a bid to scramble the winner.
Yaya Toure, after being served to the right by Gervinho, chipped his effort blindly towards Kidiaba, who sprawled to deflect it for a corner.
The Ivorians multiplied efforts across the final quarter of the meeting, but were stabbed in the back when Bokila scored his double, and fourth goal for DR Congo, in the 89th minute.
It ended 4-3 for the Congolese, who are now on six points with Cote d’Ivoire in Group D, still led by Cameroon on 10.
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