Ivory Coast beats Japan 2-1

Ivory Coast put up a spirited second half performance to come back from being 1-0 down to register their first win the world cup finals. Gervinho and Wilfred Bony breached the Japanese defense twice within two minutes to put Cote D’Ivoire in the lead in the 66^th minute of the match. Japan tried hard till the last minute of the match but failed to get the past the defensive screen of Ivory Coast and succumbed to a demoralizing defeat in their opening game of the FIFA World Cup 2014.

Japan however led for most part of the match, thanks to a nice finish from Honda in the 16^th minute of the match. They were playing a good piece of football and looked settled for 3 points but a tactical move from the Ivory Coast manger changed the complete scenario. Didier Drogba came on as a substitute in the 62^nd minute and suddenly there was a spring in the step of every Ivory Coast players and it was in the next 5 minutes that, first Gervinho and then Bony headed the ball into the back of the net to take the much against the run of play.

It was a kind of defeat that would bring the morals of the players down immensely. But the Japanese manager shouldn’t let this happen as this is just the beginning of the tournament and they still have to play against Greece and Colombia whom they are capable of beating.

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About Argha Ghosh

An ardent follower of sports and die-hard Manchester United fan, Argha's ultimate dream is to watch a Manchester derby from the Stretford End at the Old Trafford.