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Burkina Faso reached the semi-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time since 1998 when a header in extra-time from Jonathan Pitroipa gave them a 1-0 win over Togo on Sunday.
Pitroipa pulled away from his marker at a corner in the final seconds of the first period of extra-time to head in off the underside of the bar to put Burkina Faso through to the last four where they will meet Ghana in Nelspruit on Wednesday.
That means Emmanuel Adebayor will return to Tottenham to ease the pressure on Andre Villas-Boas, who is suffering a striker crisis with Jermain Defoe's ankle problem.
Winner: Jonathan Pitroipa scored the only goal in extra-time as Burkina Faso advanced to the semi-finals
MATCH FACTS
Burkina Faso: Diakite, Koffi, Keba Paul Koulibaly, Bakary Kone, Panandetiguiri, Djakaridja Kone, Ouattara (Nakoulma 66), Kabore, Wilfried Sanou (Abdou Razak Traore 96), Dagano, Pitroipa (Rouamba 109).
Subs Not Used: Soulama, Dah, Henri Traore, Balima, Bance, Rabo, Pan-Pierre Koulibaly, Germain Sanou.
Booked: Ouattara, Kabore.
Goals: Pitroipa 105.
Togo: Agassa, Mamah, Bossou, Nibombe, Djene, Amewou (Salifou 116), Akakpo (Wome 106), Romao, Gakpe, Adebayor, Floyd Ayite (Segbefia 67).
Subs Not Used: Atsu, Jonathan Ayite, Mani, Ouro-Akoriko, Placca, Ametepe, Donou, Damessi, Tchagouni.
Booked: Floyd Ayite, Gakpe, Mamah, Romao, Adebayor, Bossou.
Att: 27,000
Ref: Badara Diatta (Senegal).
The match, on the hard, sandy pitch at the Mbombela Stadium, seemed destined to go to penalties after 90 minutes of largely uninspiring football, although both sides did have chances to win it in the closing minutes of normal time.
Togo's talismanic skipper Adebayor worked tirelessly for his side, who had never reached this stage before, but he was unable to find the net with one effort cleared off the line and another well saved by Burkina goalkeeper Daouda Diakite.
Whether it was the sandy pitch or the rarefied atmosphere of reaching the quarter-finals, both sides took time to settle but after a poor first half the match improved as a spectacle but there was still a lack of real quality in front of goal.
Burkina Faso, missing injured in-form striker Alain Traore who scored two superb goals in the 4-0 win over Ethiopia in the group stage, rarely worried Togo keeper Kossi Agassa, while Togo's forwards were also way off target.
Floyd Ayite missed Togo's best chance early chance, failing to connect with a miskick after 18 minutes.
Adebayor, a regular scorer in the Premier League over the years, was playing far deeper for Togo in the first half at least but even he struggled on the pitch he described as 'a disgrace to the African continent' before the kick-off.
Boost: Emmanuel Adebayor is set to return for Spurs following Togo's exit from the tournament
Beach: Adebayor had previously criticised the sandy nature of the Nelspruit pitch
Playing in a more advanced role from the start of the second half, though, he came close to opening the scoring in the 47th minute when Ayite surged forward before crossing wide to Serge Gapke.
Adebayor, anticipating Gapke's cross, outjumped two defenders and goalkeeper Diakite but although he did not get a clean header to the cross, the ball came off his back and was bouncing into the goal only for defender Mady Panandetiguiri to hook it clear just before it crossed the line.
Prince Segbefia, who replaced Ayite after 67 minutes, had a good chance to put Togo ahead six minutes later when the ball bounced perfectly into his path 10 metres out but he blasted it over.
Hero: Goal scorer Jonathan Pitroipa embraces the Burkino Faso fans
Achievement: Burkina Faso's players celebrate reaching their first semi-final since 1998
The next opportunity fell to Adebayor who went on a rampaging run in the 78th minute, evading a tackle, but Diakite made a good save from his angled drive.
Burkina substitute Prejuce Nakoulma then had a real chance to save everyone from another half-an-hour but over-elaborated on a jinking run through the defence towards Togo's goal and wasted his chance with a weak shot which Agassa blocked.
The match went into extra-time with Pitroipa's header proving decisive in sending Burkina through to meet Ghana, who beat Cape Verde Islands 2-0 in their quarter-final on Saturday.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2272934/Burkina-Faso-1-Togo-0-AET--match-report.html#ixzz2Jtm2bVC5
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