Ivory Coast comeback seals win
Ivory Coast comeback seals win
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Wednesday, 21, Jun 2006 10:18
The Ivory Coast came from two goals down to seal a 3-2 win over Serbia and Montenegro in Group D.
Ilija Petkovic's side raced into a first-half lead but after sustained pressure in the second period, it was a late penalty which decided the game in the Africans' favour.
The Ivorians began brightly with a couple of long-range efforts but it was the Serbians who took the lead on ten minutes.
Dejan Stankovic's long-ball was delightful brought down by Nikola Zigic and the striker calmly slotted the ball past an out-of-position Boubacar Barry.
Dragoslav Jevric was forced into his first decent save of the night on 19 minutes when he blocked Aruna Dindane's drive with his legs.
However, within a minute the African side found themselves two down as some woeful defending allowed Sasa Ilic to pick the ball up and smash the ball past Barry.
The Ivory Coast were gifted a penalty ten minutes before the break when Milan Dudic handled Arthur Boka's cross and despite being forced to take the spot-kick twice after the referee ordered a re-take for encroachment, Dindane halved the deficit.
They were then given a man advantage as Albert Nadj, who only came on as a 14th minute substitute, was sent off for a second bookable offence.
A subdued second-half suddenly sparked into life on 62 minutes when Blaise Kouassi's drive smashed against the woodwork.
The Ivorians were level though five minutes later as Abdulkader Keita's cross was headed in by Dindane.
In a second-half dominated by the Africans, it was the Europeans who nearly retook the lead with 13 minutes remaining as Stankovic broke free of his marker but his header flashed the wrong side of the post.
However, with four minutes remaining, the Ivory Coast got the goal their second-half pressure deserved when they were awarded their second penalty of the night, with Dudic once again penalised for handball.
Dindane turned down the chance to complete his hat-trick and Bonaventure Kalou planted the ball in the goal.
The match finished ten each as Cyril Doromaud received his second yellow deep into injury-time but they held on for their first points in the World Cup finals.