Gabon 0-2 Equatorial Guinea

Iban Salvador's remarkable year took another turn as he scored a goal that help beat Gabon to send hosts Equatorial Guinea through to the quarter-finals of the African Nations Cup.Iban, 19, was born in Barcelona but is eligible to play for the country through his grandfather, who moved to Spain in the 1960s.The Valencia B forward only made his international debut on January 7, but on Sunday he was the toast of his adopted nation after he rubber-stamped a shock 2-0 win over Gabon at the Estadio de Bata.Iban came off the bench halfway through the second half and within 19 minutes he had scored an awkward tap-in after Emilio Nsue's shot had been parried by Gabon goalkeeper Didier Ovono.Javier Balboa had put Equatorial Guinea ahead in the 55th minute when he converted a controversial penalty which he won after a tumble in the box.Equatorial Guinea only had a few weeks to assemble their team after they were chosen to host the tournament in light of the Ebola crisis.Now, for the second time in their history, they are in the last eight, where they will face the winners of Group B.Gabon lived up to their favourites tag in the early stages as they pressed the hosts.Gabon failed to make their dominance count though and in truth neither team looked capable of breaking the deadlock in what was a dull first half.The best chance of the first period fell to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who fired a powerful header towards goal, but Equatorial Guinea goalkeeper Felipe Ovono pulled off a top-drawer save to deny the Borussia Dortmund forward.Felipe Ovono kept Equatorial Guinea in the match just after the break with two more fine saves.Then with 10 minutes of the second half gone the home fans jumped for joy as Balboa fell to in the box after appearing to collide with Lloyd Palun.Replays showed there was minimal contact between the two players, but after deliberating with his assistant, referee Noumandiez Doue awarded a penalty.Balboa, who spent nine unsuccessful years at Real Madrid, held his nerve and calmly slotted the ball home.Equatorial Guinea's substitutes rushed over to Balboa to celebrate with him in the corner.And in the 86th minute Didier Ovono spilled Nsue's shot into Iban's path and he stabbed into an empty net to spark more wild celebrations.ends