Substitute Max Gradel salvaged a point for Ivory Coast with a late equaliser in a 1-1 draw with Mali at the Africa Cup of Nations on Sunday.
Gradel netted in the 86th minute to cancel out a stunning early opener from Bakary Sako at the Nuevo Estadio de Malabo in Equatorial Guinea.
The West African neighbours drew their respective tournament openers 1-1 against Cameroon and Guinea, who will battle for the Group D summit in the later kick-off. Mali made the ideal start, as Sako put himself in contention for goal of the tournament by thundering in a first-time strike, off a difficult bounce, seven minutes in following a cross from the right by Sambou Yatabaré.
The Ivorians, however, wrestled back momentum, as Serge Aurier headed a corner over shortly after forcing goalkeeper Soumaila Diakite to block his cross at the near post midway through the first stanza.
Seydou Doumbia, who bagged the equaliser in the 1-1 draw with Guinea, then wasted a great chance as he failed to get a proper connection on a volley from close range.
Herve Renard’s men continued to press, as Wilfried Bony had a strong penalty shout turned down around the half-hour mark after flummoxing Molla Wague with an elastico nutmeg.
Moments later Kolo Toure’s booming header was pushed onto the crossbar by Diakite. Toure, though, was lucky not to be blown up for infringing his marker before the delivery came in.
Bony could have drawn level early into the second period, but the Manchester City striker directed his downward header narrowly wide of the target. The Eagles then suffered a setback in the 72nd minute when Diakite was stretchered off with an injury, prompting the introduction of 21-year-old keeper Germain Berthe. Berthe was beaten 14 minutes later, as Gradel — a first-half replacement for Ismaël Diomandé — fired home in the area to snipe a share of the spoils for his team. — Kickoff
