Recife: Cote d'Ivoire has opened their World Cup group E campaign against Asian powerhouse Japan and would like to win their opening match against their Asian opponents. Didier Drogba started from the bench, while Yaya Toure is captaining the African side.
Here are the highlights of the match:
- 6th min: First chance of the match goes to Cote d'Ivoire as Wilfred Bony's shot takes a deflection of Japanese defender and misses th near post.
- 12th min: The african side have hit the groung running early on as they are attacking from wings with Gervinho and Kalou whereas Japan have shaped up really well to stop their opponents attack.
- 16th min : Kiesuke Honda scores for Japan as he beats keeper on his near post to give Japan the lead
- 20th min : Uchida makes runs from the right and creates space for himself and shoots but his shot was blocked by goalkeeper Barry
Ivory Coast's Salomon Kalou tries to get past Japan's Atsuto Uchida and Hotaru Yamaguchi
- 23rd min: Maya Yoshida receives yellow card for his tackle
- 30th min: Boka goes close with the free kick
- 34th min : Boka once agin in action as he hits screamer of a shot which was palmed away by Japanese keeper Kawashima
Japan's goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima blocks a shot by Ivory Coast's Wilfried Bony
Second half gets underway
- 53rd min : Japan making first change Hasebe replaced by Endo
- 54th min : Bamba receives yellow card for tackle
Japan's Keisuke Honda blocks a shot by Ivory Coast's Arthur Boka
- 58th min : Didier Zokora receives yellow card
- 62st min : Cote d'Ivoire making change Dider Drogba coming in for Serey Die
- 65th min : Wilfred Bony scores the goal
Japanese soccer fans watch a live broadcast of the World Cup soccer match
- 66th min: Gervinho scores the second goal for Cote d'Ivoire two goals in space of two minutes for the African side
- 77th min : 13 min left in the match Cote d'Ivoire's two quick goals have put them in drivers seat Japan has mountain to climb
- 81st min : Drogba's freekick was palmed away to corner by Kawashima
- 90th min: four minutes of added time Cote d'Ivoire still leading with two goals
The match finally comes to an end Cote d'Ivoire earns a hard fought victory over Japan who will be dissapointed with the effort. Honda gives them an early lead in the first half, but two second half goals from Wilfred Bony and Gervinho seals the match for the African team who at one stage werer finding it dificult to score the goal. The victory comes as a relief for Cote d'Ivoire who now have a great chance to enter the next stage of the tournament.
