African Nations Cup

Burkina Faso 4-0 Ethiopia

Alain Traore scored twice as Burkina Faso overcame the dismissal of goalkeeper Abdoulaye Soulama to see off Ethiopia in Group C of the African Nations Cup.

The Lorient striker had already put the Stallions in front when Soulama was shown a straight red card for a deliberate handball.

However, they quickly recovered from the blow with Traore, Djakaridja Kone and Jonathan Pitroipa adding further goals to lift Burkina Faso to the top of the group standings.

Ethiopia were unlucky not to be ahead as early as the fifth minute when Saladin Said released Shimeles Bekel with a back heel, but the midfielder saw his curling effort come back off the right post.

Burkina Faso produced little of note until the 22nd minute but then had the ball in the back of the net, albeit illegally.

Traore sparked things with a strike from distance which was parried by goalkeeper Zerihun Tadelle to Wilfried Sanou. He slammed a shot home, but the goal was ruled out with the midfielder marginally offside.

However, they had the ball in the net once more after 34 minutes and this time it stood.

Aristide Bance saw his power drive cleared off the line, but Charles Kabore picked up the loose ball and played it over the top of the defence for Traore to volley in from close range.

Burkina Faso continued to have the edge but their luck appeared to turn on the hour mark when Soulama was sent off for handling the ball outside of the area.

A hold-up in play followed while Burkina Faso considered their tactics, with Sanou eventually making way for replacement keeper Daouda Diakite.

Diakite's first job was to deal with a free-kick from Behailu Assefa, and he came to the rescue again 10 minutes later, clinging on to another threatening ball from Behailu as the Black Lions looked to make their man advantage count.

But it was Burkina Faso who came up with the next goal after 74 minutes and it was one to savour from Traore. Pitroipa flicked the ball on to the striker, who let fly with a beautiful left-footed shot from 30 yards for his third goal of the tournament.

Kone then sealed the points five minutes later, with Pitroipa again providing the pass for the goal which was side-footed under the onrushing Tadelle.

And Pitroipa added gloss to the scoreline with a deserved fourth five minutes into stoppage time. Ethiopia were sloppy in losing the ball in midfield, with Benjamin Balima then racing down the right and placing a perfect pass to the feet of Pitroipa, who lifted his effort over Tadelle.