UPDATE 2-Soccer-Gervinho brilliance sends Ivory Coast to final

Wed Feb 8, 2012 10:37pm GMT

[-] Text [+]

(Refiles fixing byline)

*Runaway goal from Gervinho

*Ivory Coast to meet Zambia in final

*Experience proved key says coach

LIBREVILLE, Feb 8 (Reuters) - A brilliant individual goal from Gervinho put Ivory Coast into the African Nations Cup final with a 1-0 win over Mali in the semi-finals on Wednesday.

Gervinho flicked the ball past defender Ousmane Berthe with a deft back heel and sprinted 30 metres into the penalty area to score just before halftime.

It was a magical goal that brought to life a toughly-contested game in which both tired-looking teams battled to find any rhythm.

"It was my pace that allowed me to get away. It was thrilling to score such an important goal," Arsenal's Gervinho told reporters.

The Ivorians will meet Zambia in Sunday's final in Libreville. Continued...

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