After a lackluster performance in a win over North Korea to begin the World Cup, Brazil broke through against Ivory Coast to take a stranglehold on the Group of Death.
Striker Luis Fabiano scored twice to lead Brazil past Ivory Coast 3-1 in Johannesburg, South Africa on Sunday, advancing his side to the World Cup semifinals.
The Selecao picked up their
sixth point to lead Group G. Ivory Coast remains tied with Portugal for second with one point apiece.Ivory Coast’s Didier Drogba made his first start since breaking his right arm against Japan June 4 and scored in the 79th minute for his side’s lone goal – the first ever scored by an African team against Brazil in a World Cup.
Kaka became the first player with two assists in one match before receiving a second yellow card on a late dubious decision. He will miss Brazil’s next match against Portugal on Friday.
With the Elephants’ loss, African nations fell to 1-7-4 during the tournament. Ghana possesses the lone win.
Brazil took control in the 25th minute when Fabiano took Kaka’s feed and drilled a shot from the right side of the 6-yard box out of Ivorian keeper Boubacar Barry’s reach into the roof of the net – very similar in nature to American Landon Donovan’s strike in the United States’ draw with Slovenia.
Fabiano struck again for the Verde-Amarela in the 50th minute, gathering a loose ball in the box and tapping it over Didier Zokora’s and Yaya Toure’s heads – though appearing to bump the ball twice with his forearm and upper arm – before finishing with his left foot.
The Brazilians turned it into a rout in the 62nd with its trademark beautiful passing game. Kaka found Elano cutting unmarked to the left across the box, and Elano went inside the back post for a three-goal lead.
Drogba scored for the Elephants in the 79th minute, heading a ball from Toure inside the near post past flatfooted Brazilian goalie Julio Cesar.
With the game out of hand late, play began to get a little chippy. Three minutes after Elano’s goal, Ivory Coast’s Ismael Tiote took him out with a boot to the shin. Elano was carried off on a stretcher.
Then, in the 87th minute, Kaka bumped Kader Keita in the chest with an elbow. But Keita went down, holding his face and inciting a small riot, with several of his teammates chasing Kaka back up the pitch. Kaka was then shown yellow for the second time and sent off.
The Ivorians were whistled for 22 fouls overall and three yellow cards, while Brazil was called for 17 fouls and Kaka’s double-yellow.
Ivory Coast returns to action Friday against North Korea in what now amounts to a must-win for the Ivorians to survive – their goal differential dropped to -2 with Sunday’s loss, while Portugal has yet to play its second match.
NOTES: This was Brazil’s and Ivory Coast’s first-ever meeting. … The Brazilians have won seven straight matches.
Photo above: Brazil's Luis Fabiano scores his first goal Sunday. (Kai Pfaffenbach/Reuters)
Video credit – ESPN on ABC
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