Elephants coast into final

Bata - Goals from Yaya Toure, Gervinho and Serge Wilfried Kanon saw Cote d’Ivoire into the finals of the 2015 African Cup of Nations after beating DR Congo 3-1 in a semifinal match at the Estadio de Bata on Wednesday night.
 
DR Congo started the better of the two teams and came close to opening the scoring in the sixth minute when Jeremie Bokila controlled a cross from the right with some fine skill, but his 12-yard shot was well-saved by the keeper.
 
Cote d’Ivoire first decent shot on goal only came in the 16th minute when Geoffroy Serey Die let fly from long range, but his effort went narrowly wide.
 
Four minutes later and Cote d’Ivoire did take the lead after superb half volley from Yaya Toure burst the net from 20-yards out, 1-0.
 
DR Congo were afforded the perfect opportunity to level matters in the 23rd minute when Eric Bailly handled the ball inside the box and the referee pointed to the spot.
 
Dieumerci Mbokani stepped up and coolly slotted home form the penalty spot to make it 1-1.
 
Cote d’Ivoire finished the half the stronger of the two sides and came within inches of finding their second goal in the 40th minute when Gervinho met a right wing cross from Serge Aurier, but his header was cleared on the line by Gabriel Zakwani who headed the effort away off the inside of the crossbar.
 
A minute later the Elephants took the lead for the second time when a mistake at the back by DR Congo allowed Wilfried Bony to play Gervinho into space 14-yards out and he made no mistake with a clinical finish, 2-1.
 
The second half saw Dr Congo start positively once more when Yannick Bolasie dribbled his way into the Cote d’Ivoire box in the 53rd minute, but his shot from 14-yards out was brilliantly saved by the feet of the keeper.
 
The Elephants came into the game after that and virtually wrapped up the game with their third goal in the 68th minute. Serge Aurier met a corner-kick with a strong header, but his effort was palmed away to the keeper into the path of Serge Wilfried Kanon who proceeded to knee the ball home from close range, 3-1.
 
Dr Congo tried to find their way back into the game, but were unable to do so as Cote d’Ivoire moved onto the final of Afcon 2015.

Scorers: 
DR Congo (1) 1 (Dieumerci Mbokani 24’ pen)
Cote d’Ivoire (2) 3 (Yaya Toure 20’, Gervinho 41’, Serge Wilfried Kanon 68’)
 
Teams
 
DR Congo:
Robert Muteba Kidiaba, Joel Kimwaki, Jean Kasusula, Gabriel Zakwani, Chancel Mbemba Mangulu, Mpeko Issama, Cedric Makiadi (Firmin Ndombe Mubele 79’), Jeremie Bokila, Cedric Mabwati (Neeskens Kebano 69’), Yannick Bolasie, Dieumerci Mbokani (Junior Kabananga 61’).
 
Cote d’Ivoire:
Sylvain Gbohouo, Kolo Toure, Siaka Tiene (Ousmane Viera Diarassouba 72’) , Serge Aurier, Serge Wilfried Kanon, Eric Bailly, Yaya Toure, Max Gradel (Salomon Kalou 62’), Geoffroy Serey Die, Gervinho, Wilfried Bony (Lacina Traore 92’)