Argentina 2 - 1 Ivory Coast

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Saturday Jun 10 2006 08:00

Argentina made a winning start to the Group of Death by beating Ivory Coast 2-1 in an entertaining match of high quality in Hamburg but the Elephants showed that they have enough quality to bounce back and reach the last 16.

The outstanding Juan Riquelme set up both goals for the Argentinians in the first half with Hernan Crespo and Javier Saviola netting but the South Americans were made to sweat in the closing stages when Didier Drogba pulled a goal back for the Africans.

In the best game of the tournament so far, Argentina appeared to have broken the deadlock in the 15th minute when Roberto Ayala's header was fumbled by Jean-Jacques Tizie and appeared to have crossed the line before the keeper recovered - but the referee waved play on.

Ivory Coast had started brightly though with Drogba a constant threat while Kanga Akale's surging runs always caused danger.

However, Jose Pekerman's side weathered the storm and took the lead in the 24th minute. Riquelme's curling free-kick caused chaos in the Elephants defence and the ball fell kindly to Crespo who gleefully guided his shot into the net.

Ivory Coast hit back well but they found themselves two goals behind seven minutes before the interval when Riquelme played a slide-rule pass through to Saviola who beat the offside trap and confidently slotted his shot past Tizie.

After such a thrilling first period the second 45 minutes were comparatively tame as Argentina tried to kill the game.

The Africans refused to give up though as, led by the inspiring Drogba, they kept on plugging away.

Argentina appeared to have done enough to seal a comfortable win and they appear to be a solid outfit with no obvious weak links - and they still have Lionel Messi and Carlos Tevez to call on.

But, with nine minutes left, they conceded a goal when Drogba turned smartly inside the area and fired a stinging left-foot shot past Roberto Abbondanzieri.

However, despite Drogba's best efforts, Argentina hung on to secure an important win and put the pressure on Holland and Serbia & Montenegro who meet in Leipzig on Sunday.

Live Commentary

  • 90
    FULL TIME: ARGENTINA 2-1 IVORY COAST.
  • 90
    Argentina deserve their victory in an entertaining match of high quality but Ivory Coast have shown they have enough talent to bounce back and reach the last 16.
  • 90
    It's deep into stoppage time but Argentina decide to bring on Pablo Aimar for Riquelme.
  • 90
    Drogba is booked for dissent.
  • 90
    Argentina are hanging on as Ivory Coast end the game strongly.
  • 89
    Abbondanzieri plucks the ball out of the air as Boka lofts in a dangerous cross.
  • 87
    The Elephants are poised for one last charge.
  • 86
    Rodriguez turns the ball home after Riquelme's shot had been parried by Tizie but the effort is ruled out for offside.
  • 84
    Argentina respond by passing the ball between themselves as they try to wind down the clock.
  • 82
    ARGENTINA 2-1 IVORY COAST: The pressure pays off as DROGBA turns smartly inside the area and fires a stinging left-foot shot past Abbondanzieri.
  • 81
    Substitute Gonzalez is booked for tripping Zokora.
  • 79
    Bakary Kone drives a speculative effort wide.
  • 77
    Ivory Coast make their final change with Arouna Kone replacing Keita.
  • 76
    Drogba's weak effort is fired straight into the wall.
  • 76
    Argentina bring on FC Porto's Luis Gonzalez for Saviola.
  • 75
    Drogba is everywhere at the moment as he wins a free-kick on the edge of the penalty area.
  • 73
    Argentina appear to be a solid outfit with no obvious weak links - and they still have Lionel Messi and Carlos Tevez to call on.
  • 72
    Drogba deflects a free-kick narrowly wide.
  • 71
    Argentina seem content to soak up the pressure as the minutes tick by.
  • 70
    Drogba shows his power as he twists and turns inside the area before getting in a shot that is off target.
  • 68
    Better play by the Elephants as they enjoy a lengthy spell of possession.
  • 66
    Ivory Coast seem to have lost their way as they struggle to launch any attacks.
  • 64
    Argentina bring on Rodrigo Palacio for Crespo.
  • 62
    Ivory Coast make their second change as Akale makes way for Bakary Kone.
  • 61
    Eboue is booked for clattering in to Saviola.
  • 60
    Ivory Coast have shown enough quality to suggest they could still qualify for the last 16 even if they lose this game.
  • 58
    Argentina have got a stranglehold on the match now and seem the likelier side to score the next goal.
  • 56
    Henri Michel makes his first change as Lens' Aruna Dindane replaces Kalou.
  • 55
    Riquelme's curling free-kick deceives everyone and almost sneaks in at the far post.
  • 54
    Argentina have slowed the pace of the game down and appear happy to play on the counter-attack.
  • 52
    Ivory Coast clear their lines but Argentina appear to be in control.
  • 51
    Argentina have started the second period brightly as they win another corner.
  • 49
    Heinze is booked for a lunging challenge on Drogba, who is limping.
  • 48
    Ivory Coast need an early goal if they are to get back into this game.
  • 46
    Argentina get the second half underway.
  • 45
    HALF TIME: ARGENTINA 2-0 IVORY COAST.
  • 45
    It's been the best half of football in the tournament so far with both teams providing excellent entertainment.
  • 44
    Riquelme is surprisingly wayward with his corner which goes in to the side-netting.
  • 43
    Eboue concedes a needless corner as Argentina look for a third goal.
  • 41
    Yellow card for Saviola for disputing a free-kick.
  • 39
    It's going to be a long way back for Ivory Coast now, although they don't really deserve to be two goals behind.
  • 38
    ARGENTINA 2-0 IVORY COAST: Riquelme plays a slide-rule pass through to SAVIOLA who beats the offside trap and confidently slots his shot past Tizie.
  • 36
    Ivory Coast are certainly not out of this game - they have created a couple of good chances in the last few minutes.
  • 35
    Keita looks certain to equalise but his header is somehow kept out by Roberto Abbondanzieri's legs.
  • 34
    Yaya Toure sets up Bonaventure Kalou on the edge of the area but the Paris St Germain striker fires wide when he should really have done much better.
  • 33
    Kolo Toure falls awkwardly after trying to win a header but is well enough to continue.
  • 32
    Drogba's goalbound effort is deflected for another corner by Ayala.
  • 30
    Ivory Coast are struggling to get hold of the ball as Argentina look to assert their superiority on the match.
  • 28
    Argentina have settled after enduring a wobbly opening few minutes.
  • 27
    Good play by Saviola who eventually drags a shot wise.
  • 25
    Considering they should have been awarded a goal earlier, Argentina deserve their advantage.
  • 24
    ARGENTINA 1-0 IVORY COAST: Juan Roman Riquelme's curling free-kick causes chaos in the Elephants defence and the ball falls kindly to CRESPO who guides his shot into the net.
  • 23
    There's a great pace and flow to the game with Ivory Coast more than holding their own.
  • 22
    Argentina clear their lines and quickly launch an attack of their own which ends with Crespo winning a corner at the other end of the pitch.
  • 21
    Great pace by Zokora but Ayala gets back to concede a corner.
  • 20
    The match is being played at a hectic pace with the quality of football on show very high.
  • 18
    Argentina have responded well to the controversy though - they're enjoying their best spell of the game.
  • 16
    Argentina should really be ahead, the ball looked in.
  • 15
    Roberto Ayala's header from the corner is fumbled by Jean-Jacques Tizie and appears to have crossed the line before the keeper recovers - but the referee waves play on.
  • 14
    Kolo Toure denies Crespo at the expense of a corner.
  • 13
    Argentina survive but Jose Pekerman's side are currently second best.
  • 12
    Didier Zokora's probing run from midfield ends with the Elephants winning their first corner.
  • 11
    Arthur Boka wins a free-kick on the left-hand side but his delivery is poor.
  • 10
    Drogba is forced wide by Nicolas Burdisso as Ivory Coast break quickly.
  • 9
    Saviola's shot from the edge of the area is blocked by Yaya Toure.
  • 8
    Ivory Coast have edged the opening stages.
  • 7
    Akale's ambitious 30-yard drive flies over the bar - the Auxerre star has started very brightly.
  • 6
    Ivory Coast are in their first World Cup Finals while Argentina will be keen to improve on their exit at the group stage four years ago.
  • 5
    The Elephants have started very well - they certainly aren't over-awed by the South Americans.
  • 3
    Kanga Akale races down the left and Drogba acrobatically heads his cross over the bar.
  • 2
    An early Argentina free-kick comes to nothing.
  • 1
    Ivory Coast get the match underway in their all-orange number.
  • 0
    Ivory Coast will be no pushovers after reaching the African Cup of Nations Final earlier this year.
  • 0
    Didier Drogba is the Elephants' main attacking threat while Arsenal duo Emmanuel Eboue and Kolo Toure both start.
  • 0
    Gabriel Heinze starts for Argentina while Hernan Crespo joins Javier Saviola in attack.
  • 0
    The Group of Death gets underway with a potentially mouth-watering clash between Argentina and Ivory Coast in Hamburg.

Statistics

Argentina
Shots on target 3
Shots off target 5
Shots off bar/post 1
Fouls 15
Offsides 6
Corners 3

Ivory Coast
Shots on target 4
Shots off target 9
Shots off bar/post 0
Fouls 17
Offsides 0
Corners 6

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