Holland 2 - 1 Ivory Coast

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Friday Jun 16 2006 05:00

Ivory Coast's World Cup adventure is over after Henri Michel's men slipped to a 2-1 defeat against the Netherlands in Stuttgart.

The Elephants ran a magnificent Argentina side close in their first Group C game and again performed well against Marco van Batsen's Oranje.

However, just as in the Argentina game, they gave themselves too much to do by going two goals behind.

A fine 23rd-minute Robin van Persie free-kick and a cool finish from Ruud van Nistelrooy four minutes later put the Dutch in control.

Ivory Coast hit back thanks to a wonderful solo goal from Bakary Kone seven minutes before the interval, but were unable to turn second-half pressure in to an equaliser that would have kept their hopes of reaching the knockout stages alive.

The victory was enough to ensure the Netherlands join Argentina in progressing from Group C, but, unlike the South Americans, they do not look like potential winners.

Ivory Coast enjoyed the better of the opening exchanges but with van Persie and Arjen Robben in their ranks, van Basten's men carried the greater threat.

It was van Persie who made the breakthrough after cutting in from the right wing and drawing a foul from his Arsenal team-mate Kolo Toure on the edge of the box.

He dusted himself down and proceeded to smash the resulting free-kick beyond the hapless Jean-Jaques Tizie in the Elephants goal.

Ivory Coast had hardly had time to recover from the shock of conceding when the Oranje scored again.

This time Robben was the architect, surging down the left flank and exchanging passes with van Persie before picking out the unmarked van Nistelrooy on the edge of the box.

The Manchester United striker made no mistake, despatching a clinical finish past the despairing dive of Tizie.

It already looked all over, but Ivory Coast hit back through the impressive Bakary Kone before the interval.

He collected the ball in midfield, advanced past two defenders and sent a rocket of a shot past Edwin van Der Sar to bring his side back in to the game.

The Elephants dominated possession after the break, but struggled to break down a well-organised Oranje backline.Didier Drogba, Emmanuel Eboue and Aruna Dindane all had appeals for penalties waved away, but clear chances were hard to come by.

The hard-working Drogba was close to a leveller 13 minutes from time when he met a far post corner with a firm header. It beat the goalkeeper, but the outstanding van Persie was on hand to chest the ball to safety.

The Arsenal youngster's vital interception spelled the end of Ivory Coast's hopes of an equaliser and of their hopes of booking a place in the last 16.

Live Commentary

  • 90
    FULL-TIME: HOLLAND 2-1 IVORY COAST
  • 90
    Holland have been made to work hard, but are in to the last 16 with a game to spare. Ivory Coast are out despite running two top teams, Argentina and Holland, close.
  • 90
    The resulting free-kick is wasted and Ivory Coast's chance is gone.
  • 90
    Boulahrouz is booked for fouling Dindane.
  • 90
    Kolo Toure's shot is deflected wide for a corner. Yapi-Yapo's delivery is too deep. Boka collects the loose ball and tries to cross, but his effort is hacked clear.
  • 90
    Time is running out for Ivory Coast as the game goes in to added time.
  • 88
    Holland look to break after van Persie wins the ball from Drogba 20 yards from the Dutch goal. Kolo Toure gets back quickly to dispossess van der Vaart and halt the danger.
  • 86
    Drogba is caught offside as he chases a long ball forward.
  • 85
    Robben cuts in from the right wing and shoots, but his effort is too high.
  • 84
    Van der Vaart eases the pressure by carrying the ball in to the Ivory Coast half and winning a free-kick.
  • 81
    Yapi-Yapo cuts in from the left wing and lets fly from the edge of the area. The Dutch 'keeper makes a comfortable save.
  • 80
    Drogba turns in the Dutch area but is crowded out before he can shoot. The pressure on the Oranje goal is building.
  • 78
    Drogba goes down in the box after grappling with Mathijsen. Again the referee declines to give Ivory Coast a penalty.
  • 77
    The corner finds Drogba at the back post. His header beats the 'keeper only for van Persie to keep it out with his chest.
  • 76
    Eboue tumbles in the area under van Bronckhorst's challenge. The referee gives only a corner.
  • 75
    Ivory Coast are dominating possession but finding clear chances hard to come by.
  • 73
    Kanga Akale comes on for Arouna Kone.
  • 73
    Midfielder Denny Landzaat replaces van Nistelrooy as van Basten looks to tighten things up.
  • 72
    Some great build-up play from Ivory Coast leads to a chance for Dindane, but his shot is blocked.
  • 70
    Robben is gifted possession by Tizie, but the Ivory Coast 'keeper redeems himself by making the save. Van Nistelrooy's shot from the rebound is blocked.
  • 69
    Dindane goes down in the box after tussling with Boulahrouz. Again the referee decides against a penalty.
  • 67
    Van der Vaart's free-kick is charged down by Yaya Toure and Ivory Coast clear the danger.
  • 66
    Boka is booked for pulling down van Persie as he runs through on goal. The Ivory Coast full-back is lucky the card isn't red.
  • 64
    Arouna Kone goes down in the box under pressure from Boulahrouz. The referee correctly rules no penalty.
  • 63
    Van der Vaart releases Robben on the left wing, but Zokora and Kolo Toure double up on the Chelsea man to prevent him getting a cross away.
  • 62
    Ivory Coast make two changes with Aruna Dindane and Gilles Yapi-Yapo replacing Romaric and Bakary Kone.
  • 61
    Eboue surges past Robben, but van Bronckhorst gets across quickly to clear the danger.
  • 58
    Arouna Kone wastes a good chance by shooting over from the edge of the Dutch area.
  • 58
    Van Bommel is booked for a foul on Zokora.
  • 57
    Boka is stretchered off after receiving lengthy treatment.
  • 55
    A spell of pressure from Ivory Coast ends when Abdoulaye Meite shoots from 25 yards. His effort dribbles through to the 'keeper.
  • 53
    Van Bommel is down injured, but Ivory Coast opt to play on. Arouna Kone advances in to the Dutch area but his pass fails to find a team-mate.
  • 51
    Robben creates a shooting chance for van Nistelrooy on the edge of the Ivory Coast box. His effort is comfortably saved by Tizie.
  • 50
    Rafael van der Vaart replaces the disappointing Wesley Sneijder.
  • 48
    Boulahrouz is lucky to escape without a yellow card for a foul on Arouna Kone 30 yards out. Kolo Toure's effort bounces through to van der Sar.
  • 47
    Boulahrouz's first touch is a pass to set van Persie free on the right wing. The Arsenal man's cross is claimed by the Ivory Coast 'keeper.
  • 46
    Holland have made a change at the back, with Khalid Boulahrouz replacing the injured Johnny Heitinga.
  • 46
    Ivory Coast get the second half underway.
  • 45
    HALF-TIME: HOLLAND 2-1 IVORY COAST
  • 45
    Bakary Kone surges forward from midfield again. The Dutch defenders have learned their lesson and don't let him get a shot away.
  • 45
    Arouna Kone takes advantage of a mix-up in the Dutch defence to shoot from the edge of the area. His shot is too high to trouble the 'keeper.
  • 44
    Van Persie tries his luck from a tight angle, forcing Jean-Jacques Tizie in to a save. The resulting corner comes to nothing.
  • 42
    Drogba intercepts the ball inside his own half and surges forward, creating a two on one for Ivory Coast. Great defending from van Bronckhorst as he cuts out the pass to Arouna Kone and clears the danger.
  • 41
    Drogba catches Van der Sar and is harshly booked. The skipper will miss the Elephants' final Group C game.
  • 38
    HOLLAND 2-1 IVORY COAST BAKARY KONE picks the ball up in midfield, advances past two defenders and hits a rocket of a shot beyond Van der Sar.
  • 36
    The resulting free-kick finds Drogba, but he cannot direct his header on target.
  • 35
    Mathijsen is booked for a foul on Drogba.
  • 34
    Robben tries to win a penalty with an acrobatic tumble. The referee rightly books him for diving.
  • 33
    Zokora unleashes a shot from 25 yards. It beats the Dutch 'keeper, but smashes against the woodwork and rebounds to safety.
  • 32
    Drogba shows both strength and skill as he looks to create a chance for himself, but Ooijer stops him getting a shot away.
  • 31
    The Ivory Coast players look stunned by events and Boka punts the ball aimlessly out of play.
  • 27
    HOLLAND 2-0 IVORY COAST Robben surges down the left flank and exchanges passes with van Persie before picking out VAN NISTELROOY on the edge of the box. The Manchester United man gives the 'keeper no chance.
  • 26
    Romaric shoots from 25 yards but his tame effort is easily collected by Edwin van der Sar.
  • 24
    Didier Zokora is booked for a foul on van Bommel.
  • 23
    HOLLAND 1-0 IVORY COAST Van Persie cuts in from the wing and draws a foul from Kolo Toure on the edge of the box. VAN PERSIE smashes the free-kick in to the top corner.
  • 20
    Van Persie swings in a cross towards Cocu, but Kolo Toure again heads clear.
  • 19
    Robben accelerates past Eboue and cuts in to the Ivory Coast box. Kolo Toure is across quickly to tackle and then clears the ball upfield.
  • 18
    Ivory Coast are beginning to take control. Their latest attack finishes with Boka firing well wide, but the signs are positive for them.
  • 17
    Yaya Toure's throughball behind van Bronckhorst creates a chance for Arouna Kone, but his tame shot dribbles wide.
  • 15
    Arthur Boka's long free-kick in to the Dutch box causes problems but Arouna Kone is unable to work an opening to shoot.
  • 12
    Emmanuel Eboue surges in to the Dutch box and appears to be hauled down by van Bronckhorst. The Barcelona man gets lucky as the referee rules no penalty.
  • 11
    Romaric fires in a dangerous cross, but Joris Mathijsen heads clear. Bakary Kone collects the rebound and tries his luck from the edge of the box, only to see Andre Ooijer block the shot.
  • 10
    Holland's crisp passing is getting the better of Ivory Coast's more direct approach in the early stages, but both sides are struggling to create chances.
  • 7
    Robin van Persie beats his marker with a neat turn and fires over a cross. Kolo Toure heads clear.
  • 6
    Arouna Kone battles hard in an attempt to win a corner for Ivory Coast, but only manages to concede a free-kick for a foul on Phillip Cocu.
  • 5
    Holland are passing the ball about nicely. Mark van Bommel chips a cross in to the box, but it is too high for Ruud van Nistelrooy.
  • 3
    Giovanni van Bronckhorst and Arjen Robben fire crosses in to the Ivory Coast box in quick succession, but Kolo Toure clears both.
  • 2
    Romaric and Didier Drogba link up well, but the Chelsea striker's lay-off to Arouna Kone is poor and the opportunity to create a shooting chance is gone.
  • 1
    Holland get the game underway.
  • 0
    Elephants boss Henri Michel has made three changes to the side that lost 2-1 against Argentina. In come strikers Arouna Kone and Bakary Kone and midfielder Ndri Romaric.
  • 0
    Dutch coach Marco van Basten has named an unchanged team. He will be desperate to secure qualification in this game and avoid having to get a result against in-form Argentina in Holland's final Group C match.
  • 0
    Holland take on Ivory Coast in Stuttgart with the Oranje knowing that a victory would book their place in the last 16.

Statistics

Holland
Shots on target 7
Shots off target 2
Shots off bar/post 0
Fouls 23
Offsides 6
Corners 3

Ivory Coast
Shots on target 8
Shots off target 6
Shots off bar/post 1
Fouls 15
Offsides 4
Corners 8

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