Yattara scores twice for Guinea to down 10-man Burundi

Soccer Football - Africa Cup of Nations 2019 - Group B - Burundi v Guinea - Al Salam Stadium, Cairo, Egypt - June 30, 2019 Guinea's Mohamed Yattara scores their second goal REUTERS/Suhaib Salem

CAIRO (Reuters) - Mohamed Yattara scored a brace of goals as Guinea defeated 10-man Burundi 2-0 in their Africa Cup of Nations Group B clash on Sunday to give themselves a strong chance of a place in the knockout stages.

The victory means Guinea finish third in their pool behind Madagascar and Nigeria, but their four points will likely make them among the four best third-placed finishers that advance to the second round.

Yattara was the most influential player on the pitch as a foul on him led to an early red card for Burundi’s Christophe Nduwarugira, before he netted his two goals.

Soccer Football - Africa Cup of Nations 2019 - Group B - Burundi v Guinea - Al Salam Stadium, Cairo, Egypt - June 30, 2019 Guinea fans before the match REUTERS/Suhaib Salem

Debutants Burundi exit the competition with three defeats and no goals scored in what has been a difficult introduction to continental finals for the East African nation.

Guinea were without Liverpool midfielder Naby Keita, who did not recover in time from a knock he picked up in the 1-0 loss to Nigeria in the team’s previous fixture.

Burundi were in trouble inside 12 minutes when right-back Nduwarugira received a straight red card after holding back Yattara when his weak back-pass threatened to allow the Guinea forward on goal.

Soccer Football - Africa Cup of Nations 2019 - Group B - Burundi v Guinea - Al Salam Stadium, Cairo, Egypt - June 30, 2019 Guinea's Ibrahima Traore celebrates with Ibrahim Kone at the end of the match as Burundi's Frederic Nsabiyumva gestures REUTERS/Suhaib Salem

Nduwarugira walked off the field in tears, leaving his side to play the majority of the game with a numerical disadvantage.

Burundi’s Pierrot Kwizera forced a good stop from Guinea goalkeeper Ibrahim Kone with a long-range drive, but it was Guinea who broke the deadlock.

A cross from Francois Kamano was only cleared to Yattara inside the box and he turned the ball home with a one-touch finish on 25 minutes.

Soccer Football - Africa Cup of Nations 2019 - Group B - Burundi v Guinea - Al Salam Stadium, Cairo, Egypt - June 30, 2019 Guinea's Mohamed Yattara celebrates scoring their first goal with team mates REUTERS/Suhaib Salem

He doubled the lead seven minutes after the break as the Burundi defence was stretched and Ibrahima Traore’s cross was easily finished by the Auxerre forward.

Jose Kante should have added a third when he side-footed wide with just the keeper to beat but Guinea were comfortably able to hold on to their advantage as Burundi failed to create clear-cut chances.

Soccer Football - Africa Cup of Nations 2019 - Group B - Burundi v Guinea - Al Salam Stadium, Cairo, Egypt - June 30, 2019 Burundi's Christophe Nduwarugira looks dejected as he walks off after being shown a red card REUTERS/Suhaib Salem

(Reporting By Nick Said, editing by Pritha Sarkar)

Soccer Football - Africa Cup of Nations 2019 - Group B - Burundi v Guinea - Al Salam Stadium, Cairo, Egypt - June 30, 2019 Burundi players line up before the match REUTERS/Suhaib Salem

Soccer Football - Africa Cup of Nations 2019 - Group B - Burundi v Guinea - Al Salam Stadium, Cairo, Egypt - June 30, 2019 Guinea's Francois Kamano shoots at goal REUTERS/Suhaib Salem

Soccer Football - Africa Cup of Nations 2019 - Group B - Burundi v Guinea - Al Salam Stadium, Cairo, Egypt - June 30, 2019 Guinea's Mohamed Yattara reacts REUTERS/Suhaib Salem

Soccer Football - Africa Cup of Nations 2019 - Group B - Burundi v Guinea - Al Salam Stadium, Cairo, Egypt - June 30, 2019 Guinea's Issiaga Sylla in action with Burundi's Gael Bigirimana REUTERS/Suhaib Salem

Soccer Football - Africa Cup of Nations 2019 - Group B - Burundi v Guinea - Al Salam Stadium, Cairo, Egypt - June 30, 2019 Burundi's Fiston Abdul Razak in action with Guinea's Ernest Seka and Simon Falette REUTERS/Suhaib Salem

Soccer Football - Africa Cup of Nations 2019 - Group B - Burundi v Guinea - Al Salam Stadium, Cairo, Egypt - June 30, 2019 Burundi's Omar Ngandu in action with Guinea's Sori Kaba REUTERS/Suhaib Salem

Soccer Football - Africa Cup of Nations 2019 - Group B - Burundi v Guinea - Al Salam Stadium, Cairo, Egypt - June 30, 2019 Burundi's Christophe Nduwarugira looks dejected as he walks off after being shown a red card REUTERS/Suhaib Salem

Soccer Football - Africa Cup of Nations 2019 - Group B - Burundi v Guinea - Al Salam Stadium, Cairo, Egypt - June 30, 2019 Burundi's Christophe Nduwarugira is shown a red card by referee Noureddine El Jaafari REUTERS/Suhaib Salem

Soccer Football - Africa Cup of Nations 2019 - Group B - Burundi v Guinea - Al Salam Stadium, Cairo, Egypt - June 30, 2019 Guinea fans before the match REUTERS/Suhaib Salem