Ivory Coast 3-1 Ghana
Ivory Coast became the first nation to reach the knock-out stage
Friday, 15, Jan 2010 08:06
By Tom Powell.
Ivory Coast ensured qualification from Pool B of the African Cup of Nations with a comfortable 3-1 victory over Ghana at the Estadio do Cabinda.
The win sees Ivory Coast advance to the knock-out stage whilst Ghana will have to beat Burkino Faso in the final match in Pool B to advance.
The Elephants were the better side in the first period and led 1-0 thanks to Gervinho's goal whilst the Black Stars came close to an equaliser through Kwadwo Asamoah.
Despite the introduction of Michael Essien and the dismissal of Emmanuel Eboue, Siaka Tiene and Didier Drogba put Ivory Coast 3-0 up before Asamoah Gyan grabbed a consolation from the penalty spot.
Ivory Coast made just one change from the side that drew 0-0 with Burkino Faso in their opening Group B match with Chelsea's Salomon Kalou coming in for Bakory Kone.
Ghana opted to leave Essien on the bench with the Chelsea man still carrying an injury, 19-year old Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu of Udinese took his place in midfield.
After a tentative opening both sides threatened with free-kicks, the second of which was blasted over by Ivory Coast captain and Chelsea forward Didier Drogba with 12 minutes on the clock.
The Ivory Coast were beginning to control the game and twice went close through former-Spurs man Didier Zokora, the midfielder thwarted by Ghana 'keeper Richard Kingson.
But Kingson was unable to come to the rescue on 21 minutes as the Elephants opened the scoring through Ligue One top-scorer Gervinho.
The winger provided the final touch to Kalou's right-wing cross after the Chelsea forward had glided passed the Ghana defence.
Ghana finally strung a few passes together with the match 30 minutes old but the biggest threat to the Ivory Coast seemed to be the pitch which was becoming increasingly churned up and difficult for the players to stand up on.
Ghana's Asamoah came close to drawing his side level moments before the break as he turned sharply and stung the palms of Boubacar Barry in the Ivory Coast goal.
The Black Stars introduced Essien for the start of the second half but it was Ivory Coast who continued to dominate proceedings.
Drogba was off-target with another free-kick five minutes after the break before the Elephants were reduced to ten-men when Eboue went in recklessly on Opoku Agyemang.
Ghana were soon looking to take advantage of their extra men and went extremely close when Asamoah smashed a powerful shot against the Ivory Coast post with Barry beaten.
Barry almost gifted Ghana an equaliser as he misjudged a Black Stars free-kick but moments later Ivory Coast doubled their lead.
Tiene took over his side's free-kick duties and duly curled in an inch perfect, left foot strike beyond the reach of Kingson to make it 2-0.
Ghana were once again struggling to break down a stubborn Ivory Coast defence and were dealt a further blow when Essien was injured following a challenge from Chelsea team mate Drogba.
Initial indications were that Essien had further damaged his hamstring but the midfielder soldiered on, much to the delight of Ghana and Chelsea fans.
With time running out Ghana twice went close to reducing the deficit as Moussa Narry and then Essien struck efforts that drifted wide.
Not to be denied Drogba finally had the goal he was searching for to confirm the victory as he powered home a header following great work from Kader Keita.
But the three-goal lead was reduced almost immediately as Ghana grabbed a consolation from the penalty spot after he had been brought down by Hibernian's Soulemane Bamba.
That was the last action of the contest as Ivory Coast get set for the latter stages and Ghana prepare for an all or nothing battle with Burkino Faso on Tuesday.