Ivory Coast 3 Serbia & Montenegro 2
Two goals from man-of-the-match Aruna Dindane and a late penalty from substitute Bonaventure Kalou saw the Ivory Coast come from two goals down to end their first World Cup campaign with an impressive, if futile, win.
Early goals from giant striker Nikola Zigic and Sasa Ilic, both the result of poor defending, put Serbia and Montenegro firmly in control in what could be their last match before the country splits into two nations.
However, Dindane's penalty, following a handball bordering on the ridiculous by Milan Dudic, allowed the African side back into the match while Serbia and Montenegro were then reduced to 10 men before the break by the sending off of substitute Albert Nadj.
Dindane's second-half header then evened things up and then, when Dudic handled again, another penalty was awarded although Dindane spurned the chance of the first 2006 World Cup hat-trick by allowing Kalou to score the penalty.
Ivory Coast's Cyrille Domoraud received his marching orders in stoppage time.
There was nothing to play for but pride for both teams with Argentina and Holland having already secured the two Group C qualification berths on offer, although 66,000 spectators still watched a match which saw both teams have a man sent off.
After nine minutes the Serbo-Montenegrins took the lead as a long ball from Dejan Stankovic caught out the leaden-footed Ivorian defence, leaving 6ft 8in Zigic to round goalkeeper Boubacar Barry and score.
The Ivorians, deprived of the suspended Didier Drogba, should have equalised when Kader Keita dashed down the right and crossed to Dindane but his shot was blocked by goalkeeper Dragoslav Jevric with his feet before Kanga Akale missed the rebound with the goal at his mercy.
Serbia and Montenegro took full advantage as they went 2-0 ahead after 20 minutes. Predrag Djordjevic's ball was miscontrolled by Domoraud and Ilic took the ball past Barry and netted.
Dudic's comical 37th-minute handball, even he was giggling as he was cautioned, gave the Africans a way back with Dindane netting from the spot twice after being made to retake it by Mexican referee Marco Rodriguez for encroachment.
Dindane was later harshly booked for diving for what should have been a penalty when Jevric upended him but then Ilija Petkovic's side were reduced to 10 men when Nadj got his second yellow card.
Early in the second half Akale's shot forced Jevric to save with his feet as Henri Michel's team tried to make the extra man pay and then Arouna Kone fired just wide. Blaise Kouassi's long-range effort rattled the crossbar as the Ivorians poured forward.
Dindane then netted the equaliser with a header after connecting with a cross from Keita.
The Ivory Coast were now besieging the Serbo-Montenegrin goal with only some lionhearted defending keeping them at bay but out of the blue an unmarked Stankovic missed a glorious chance to restore the lead when he headed a Djordjevic free-kick wide.
Then came Dudic's second handball and Dindane's generosity allowed Kalou to ensure the Elephants signed off a win with Domoraud sent off for a tackle in the dying seconds.
Early goals from giant striker Nikola Zigic and Sasa Ilic, both the result of poor defending, put Serbia and Montenegro firmly in control in what could be their last match before the country splits into two nations.
However, Dindane's penalty, following a handball bordering on the ridiculous by Milan Dudic, allowed the African side back into the match while Serbia and Montenegro were then reduced to 10 men before the break by the sending off of substitute Albert Nadj.
Dindane's second-half header then evened things up and then, when Dudic handled again, another penalty was awarded although Dindane spurned the chance of the first 2006 World Cup hat-trick by allowing Kalou to score the penalty.
Ivory Coast's Cyrille Domoraud received his marching orders in stoppage time.
There was nothing to play for but pride for both teams with Argentina and Holland having already secured the two Group C qualification berths on offer, although 66,000 spectators still watched a match which saw both teams have a man sent off.
After nine minutes the Serbo-Montenegrins took the lead as a long ball from Dejan Stankovic caught out the leaden-footed Ivorian defence, leaving 6ft 8in Zigic to round goalkeeper Boubacar Barry and score.
The Ivorians, deprived of the suspended Didier Drogba, should have equalised when Kader Keita dashed down the right and crossed to Dindane but his shot was blocked by goalkeeper Dragoslav Jevric with his feet before Kanga Akale missed the rebound with the goal at his mercy.
Serbia and Montenegro took full advantage as they went 2-0 ahead after 20 minutes. Predrag Djordjevic's ball was miscontrolled by Domoraud and Ilic took the ball past Barry and netted.
Dudic's comical 37th-minute handball, even he was giggling as he was cautioned, gave the Africans a way back with Dindane netting from the spot twice after being made to retake it by Mexican referee Marco Rodriguez for encroachment.
Dindane was later harshly booked for diving for what should have been a penalty when Jevric upended him but then Ilija Petkovic's side were reduced to 10 men when Nadj got his second yellow card.
Early in the second half Akale's shot forced Jevric to save with his feet as Henri Michel's team tried to make the extra man pay and then Arouna Kone fired just wide. Blaise Kouassi's long-range effort rattled the crossbar as the Ivorians poured forward.
Dindane then netted the equaliser with a header after connecting with a cross from Keita.
The Ivory Coast were now besieging the Serbo-Montenegrin goal with only some lionhearted defending keeping them at bay but out of the blue an unmarked Stankovic missed a glorious chance to restore the lead when he headed a Djordjevic free-kick wide.
Then came Dudic's second handball and Dindane's generosity allowed Kalou to ensure the Elephants signed off a win with Domoraud sent off for a tackle in the dying seconds.
posted by dgarden at 8:46 am
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