Ivory Coast 2-1 Japan: Bony & Gervinho down Asian champions
surreal fashion as the Elephants battled from a goal
down to defeat Japan 2-1 in Recife.
Talisman Didier Drogba was left out of the starting
line up but the 36-year old’s introduction seemed to
make the Africans more clinical in front of goal after
being profligate for most of the night.
Japan’s star player Keisuke Honda had put them
ahead with an impressive strike after 16 minutes
and, as Ivory Coast continued to miss chance after
chance, it seemed their bid to qualify for the
knockout stages would take an early hit.
Atsuto Uchida should have made it 2-0 after cutting
in from the right but opted to go for goal and shot
straight at the goalkeeper Boubacar Barry with
team-mates well placed in the middle.
However, Drogba’s introduction gave the Elephants
new impetus. Swansea’s Wilfried Bony and then
Gervinho both nipped in to convert crosses from
right-back Serge Aurier – a reported transfer target
for Arsenal after they lost Bacary Sagna to
Manchester City this week.
Ivory Coast, with Manchester City midfielder Yaya
Toure captaining the side but plainly not at his best
after recovering from a hamstring injury, stepped up
the pressure but failed to test goalkeeper Eiji
Kawashima, with Salomon Kalou heading over from
six yards just before the break.
Either side of Bony making a mess of two headers
early in the second half, Toure appeared to be
brought down by Maya Yoshida but no penalty was
awarded.
With frustration growing, Drogba was introduced
and, within six minutes, his side were ahead. Bony
equalised in 65th minute with a glancing header,
before Roma forward Gervinho beat Kawashima all
too easily at his near post to stun the Japanese.
0 comments:
Post a Comment