Ivory Coast fight back to beat Serbs 3-2

MUNICH, June 22: Ivory Coast fought back from two goals down to beat Serbia&Montenegro 3-2 and secure their first World Cup win in an entertaining and fiercely fought battle to avoid ending bottom of group C.

Substitute Bonaventure Kalou struck the winner from the penalty spot after Serbia defender Milan Dudic handled the ball in the area for the second time, having given away a blatant first-half penalty that let Ivory Coast back into the match uesterday.

The theoretically meaningless game was played in continual rain, torrential at first, but there was nothing damp about the action on the pitch which was an exciting spectacle.

The crunching tackles and repeated yellow cards, seven in the first half alone, showed neither side wanted to end fourth in a group generally regarded as the toughest at this World Cup.

The result left Serbia&Montenegro, playing in their last match as one team after Montenegro's vote for independence, without a point. Both sides had already lost to Argentina and Netherlands and had no chance to qualify for the last 16.

It was the first time a team had come back from two goals down to win a World Cup match since West Germany beat England 3-2 in the quarter-finals in Mexico in 1970.

The west Africans followed their now familiar pattern of letting in two early goals, before halving the advantage -- they lost 2-1 to Argentina and Netherlands -- showing they continue to suffer defensive lapses despite their efforts to solve them.

''Of course, I'm satisfied as we finally won our first match but once again we had the same problems as in previous matches,'' said Ivory Coast coach Henri Michel. ''Instead of letting in two goals in 20 minutes it was two goals in 10.

Serbia coach Ilija Petkovic added: ''Ivory Coast played an outstanding match tonight. They were unfortunate, with more luck they could have come second. Ivory Coast were superior to us.''

The Serbs, seeking self-respect after a 6-0 drubbing by Argentina in their last game, again had a man sent off as substitute stand-in left back Albert Nadj was booked for the second time just before the break.

His first yellow card after 17 minutes was the 200th at this year's finals. Nadj's dismissal followed that of striker Mateja Kezman in the last game who was red carded against Argentina.

Serbia took the lead in the 10th minute when striker Nikola Zigic controlled a long ball from Dejan Stankovic, rounded the keeper and slotted home.

They doubled their advantage in the 19th minute when Sasa Ilic pounced on a fumbled clearance by Ivory Coast stand-in captain Cyrille Domoraud from a Predag Djordjevic cross.

Only a minute earlier, the Ivorians missed a golden chance when Arune Dindane shot against the keeper from close range before Kanga Akale missed an easy rebound. Coach Henri Michel, in his last match in charge, had his head in his hands.

However, their pressure eventually paid off when Dindane tucked away a twice-taken penalty in the 36th minute following a needless handball by Dudic.

With a man advantage, Ivory Coast dominated the second half.

Blaise Kouassi struck the bar, Dindane came close with a header and finally headed in a Kader Keita cross in the 67th minute to cheers from appreciate neutrals in the crowd.

But they were not finished yet and when Dudic again handled in the area, even if it was less deliberate this time, Kalou stepped up to score and seal a historic victory for Ivory Coast who had Domoraud sent off for a second booking in stoppage time.

REUTERS

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