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Alain Traore scored two goals to help 10-man Burkina Faso take control of Group C with a 4-0 victory over Ethiopia at the Africa Cup of Nations on Friday.
Traore netted in the 34th and 74th minutes at the Mbombela Stadium to become the leading scorer in the tournament with three, and ensure that goalkeeper Abdoulaye Soulama's red card ultimately had no effect on the game.
Brace: Alain Traore scored twice as Burkina Faso smashed Ethiopia 4-0
MATCH FACTS
Burkina Faso: Soulama, Koffi, Bakary Kone, Keba Paul Koulibaly, Panandetiguiri, Djakaridja Kone, Kabore (Balima 90), Pitroipa, Alain Traore, Wilfried Sanou (Diakite 64), Bance (Rouamba 64).
Subs Not Used: Dah, Henri Traore, Dagano, Ouattara, Rabo, Pan-Pierre Koulibaly, Abdou Razak Traore.
Sent Off: Soulama (60).
Booked: Pitroipa.
Goals: Alain Traore 34, 74, Djakaridja Kone 79, Pitroipa 90.
Ethiopia: Tadelle, Tesfaye, Gebreyes, Hailu, Bogale,Megersa (Zinabu 43), Teshome, Bekele (Kebede 55), Hintsa, Adane Girma (Assefa 12), Said.
Subs Not Used: Bancha, Bune, Alula Girma, Oukri, Elias, Ibrahim, Estifanos,Saleh.
Booked: Tesfaye.
Att: 35,000
Ref: Bernard Camille (Seychelles).
Soulama was sent off with Burkina Faso leading 1-0 with half an hour remaining for handling the ball outside the area.
But Ethiopia was unable to capitalize, and Djakaridja Kone and Jonathan Pitroipa rounded off the scoring for Burkina Faso to put them top of their group with four points.
Ethiopia made four changes from the team that drew 1-1 with Zambia as they tried to counter Burkina Faso's physical presence with pace.
The tactic nearly paid dividends in the opening minutes of the game when Salahdin Said's crafty backheel put Shimelese Bikele through on goal, only for his effort to hit the upright.
Burkina Faso grew into the match, and after Wilfried Sanou had a goal ruled out for offside, Traore gave them a deserved lead.
Although Ethiopia defender Degu Debebe was able to clear an initial attack off the line, the Ethiopian defense rushed out and allowed Charles Kabore to send a ball over the top for Traore to open the scoring.
The diminutive Ethiopians continued to struggle with the raw power of their opponents, and made two injury-enforced substitutions before half-time.
They were handed an unexpected advantage in the second half when Soulama snatched a relatively harmless ball from outside his penalty area and was shown a straight red card.
But as Ethiopia pressed forward, Burkina Faso were able to hit on the break and Traore rifled home his second from 30 yards out.
Kone and Pitroipa completed the rout as Ethiopia fell apart, giving Burkina Faso their first win at the Africa Cup on Nations in 15 years.
Let off: Goalkeeper Abdoulaye Soulama's sending off wasn't costly for Burkina Faso
Colourful: Ethiopia fans were in good spirits but they left the stadium in Nelspruit disappointed
'The game did not go according to plan,' Ethiopia coach Sewnet Bishaw said. 'In the second half we tried to manage it, but there were unnecessary goals from Burkina Faso and that totally destroyed our emotions.
'We can say it was a very crazy game, and certainly in the beginning we were lucky with the ball hitting the post,' Burkina Faso coach Paul Put said.
'But when we scored the goal you saw Burkina Faso was released to play the game. And I think when we were down to 10 men we kept very disciplined and we scored another three goals so I'm very happy.'
Leaders: Burkina Faso moved to the top of Group C while Ethiopia sit bottom
Party: Burkina Faso fans were happy with what they saw from their team
Defending champions Zambia drew 1-1 with Nigeria in the other Group C match on Friday.
That means Burkina Faso are top of the group on four points, two ahead of Zambia and Nigeria with Ethiopia bottom on one.
Saturday will see the Group D teams play their second round of matches in Rustenburg.
Ivory Coast take on Tunisia in the early match before Algeria and Togo do battle as all teams have one point after the first group game.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2268418/Africa-Cup-Nations-Burkina-Faso-4-Ethiopia-0--match-report.html#ixzz2J36Epuu0
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