The Elephants faced The Samurai’s late on Saturday
night (GMT). The Elephants boasted a strong team filled with familiar premier
league faces including Manchester City’s Yaya Toure who captained the side as
Drogba didn't make the starting line-up.
It was Japan who
started off the brightest. Japanese superstars Shinji Kagawa and Keisuke Honda
pulled the strings in midfield. It was the AC Milan midfielder who made the
biggest impact early in the first half thumping home a left footed drive from
inside the area past the helpless Ivorian in goal.
The Ivory Coast
beast was awakened and the boys in orange continued to stomp forward looking
for an equaliser only to see chance after chance fail to bring them level. Stars
such as Gervinho, Yaya Toure, Bony and Solomon Kalou all looked on despairingly
as each miss threatened their world cup progression.
The introduction of
national heartthrob, Didier Drogba, coincided with the breakthrough. Although
the experienced forward did not get on the score sheet himself he distracted
the Japanese enough for his team-mates to score. Swansea’s Wilfried Bony glanced
his header from Arsenal target Aurier’s cross past the flailing Japanese
goalkeeper to open the Africans World Cup account.
 |
| Ivorian goalscorers, Bony and Gervinho celebrate their second. |
Aurier was again the
architect just 90 seconds later as the Japanese saw their lead to into a
deficit in the blink of an eye. Aurier's cross this time found the fivehead of
ex-Arsenal winger Gervinho. His header sneaked in at the front post to put the
Elephants ahead. Gervinho wheeled off to celebrate closely followed by Ivorian
stalwart Drogba.
Japan were unable to
find a way back into the game but gave a good account of themselves. Their
coach still believes they have a chance of qualifying for the latter stages of
the competition but it’s clear they are going to need a bit of luck if they are
to progress ahead of Ivory Coast or group leaders Colombia.
Ivory Coast 2 - 1 Japan 
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