The Ivory Coast secured their first ever World Cup victory by beating ten-man Serbia and Montenegro 3-2 in an entertaining game in Munich.
Two goals from Aruna Dindane and a Bonaventure Kalou penalty brought the Elephants back from 2-0 down after Nikola Zigic and Sasa Ilic had secured an early lead for Serbia and Montenegro.
Both teams had already been eliminated from the competition so this game was all about pride and with nothing to lose each side played an open and attacking game.
The first half began at great pace and it was the Ivory Coast that made all the running with Kader Keita providing some great runs down the right. Despite their early pressure the Elephants couldn't make it count and Serbia & Montenegro made them pay on ten minutes.
A fantastic long ball forward from the captain Dejan Stankovic was brilliantly controlled by Zigic. The big striker's first touch took him past both the last defender and the keeper leaving him with an open goal which he rolled the ball into.Albert Nadj came on for Serbia and Montenegro after 16 minutes and was immediately booked for a late challenge, something he would come to regret.
On 20 minutes Serbia and Montenegro doubled their advantage. Cyrille Domoraud failed to deal with a high ball into the box and his poor touch presented an easy chance for Ilic who obliged with a cool finish.
The Ivory Coast were given a lifeline in the 35th minute thanks to a crazy moment from Milan Dudic when he handled the ball in his own area. The resulting spot-kick was slotted home by Dindane after being forced to re-take it following encroachment.
The wet conditions led to some late tackles and the referee needed no invitation to brandish some cards. The substitute Nadj received his marching orders just before half-time, his second yellow card coming for a lunging tackle on Keita.
The second half began quietly as Serbia and Montenegro looked to defend their slender lead and Ivory Coast were unable to create any clear chances.
Dindane came close on a number of occasions but he couldn't keep his headers on target. However in the 67th minute he did and sent the African fans into raptures.
A cross from the right by Keita was met by the striker in acres of space and this time he found the net, glancing his header into the bottom left of the goal.
It looked like the game was only heading one way but Stankovic missed a glorious chance to give Serbia and Montenegro a shock goal on 77 minutes. A free-kick beat the weak offside trap and the Inter Milan player was left in space to plant his header into the goal but it sailed wide.
In the 84th minute Ivory Coast were handed another penalty thanks to yet another crazy handball, Milan Dudic again the offender. The Serbia and Montenegro defender escaped a sending off after previously receiving a booking in the game.
Dindane wanted to take the kick to complete his hat-trick but substitute Kalou was determined to have the chance himself. He scored to send the Ivory Coast into the lead for the first time in the game.
Domoraud was sent off in injury time for his second yellow card, the ninth in the match, but it didn't dampen the celebrations that followed a famous victory for the Africans.