Previous Encounters:
Holland and Ivory Coast had never met before the Germany 2006 World Cup Finals.
The Match:
Ivory Coast needed to win this game, if they wanted to stay in the tournament.
Ivory Coast should have had a twelfth minute penalty; when Giovanni
Van Bronckhorst clearly held Emmanuel Eboue, as he ran with the ball in the Holland area.
Robin Van Persie earned a free-kick on the edge of the area and
converted it himself, to put Holland in front on the 23rd minute.
Three minutes later, Arjen Robben made all the running then, after a
one-two on the edge of the area, switched play and sent Ruud van Nistelrooy through; for
Holland to double their lead.
Ivory Coast didn't drop their heads, as Didier Zokora hit the post
with Van der Sar completely beaten.
Bakari Kone brought Ivory Coast back into the game with a great solo
run acroos the middle of the pitch, then a switch left into the area to fire a screamer
past Van der Sar.
Didier Drogba's second yellow card of the tournamnet means he will
miss Ivory Coast's last group game; against Serbia & Montenegro.
Ivory Coast came so close to equalising just before half-time, as
Arouna Kone turned on the edge of the area, but shot over the bar.
Half-time: (2:1).
Ivory Coast continued to look for the equaliser after the break, while
Holland countered with a midfield reinforcement.
A 77th minute corner, for the Ivory Coast, was saved off the line by
Van Persie's chest.
Two minutes later, Didier Drogba turned on the edge of the area but
was just muscled out of a scoring chance.
The final minutes were a tense affair but in the end, Argentina and
Holland qualified from Group C; while Ivory Coast and Serbia-Montenegro went out.
Holland vs Argentina will decide
who tops the group; Holland need to win, while a draw will be enough for Argentina.
Final Score:
Holland 2 - Côte d'Ivoire 1
Goalscorers:
1:0 Robin Van Persie (23)
2:0 Ruud van Nistelrooy (26)
2:1 Bakari Kone (38)
Teams
Holland: (Captain Edwin Van der
Sar)
1 Edwin Van der Sar; 4 Joris Mathijsen, 5 Giovanni Van Bronckhorst,
13 Andre Ooijer, 14 Johnny Heitinga; 8 Phillip Cocu, 18 Mark Van
Bommel, 20 Wesley Sneijder; 9 Ruud van Nistelrooy, 11 Arjen Robben,
17 Robin Van Persie.
Substitutions:
46 Mins (Holland) - 3 Khalid Boulahrouz on for 14 Johnny Heitinga
50 Mins (Holland) - 10 Rafael van der Vaart on for 20 Wesley Sneijder
62 Mins (Ivory Coast) - 10 Gilles Yapi Yapo on for 22 Ndri Romaric
62 Mins (Ivory Coast) - 15 Aruna Dindane on for 14 Bakari Kone
73 Mins (Holland) - 6 Denny Landzaat on for 9 Ruud van Nistelrooy
73 Mins (Ivory Coast) - 2 Kanga Akale on for 9 Arouna Kone
7 Yellow
Cards:
25 Mins - Didier Zokora (Ivory Coast)
34 Mins - Arjen Robben (Holland)
35 Mins - Joris Mathijsen (Holland)
41 Mins - Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast)
58 Mins - Mark Van Bommel (Holland)
66 Mins - Arthur Boka (Ivory Coast)
93 Mins - Khalid Boulahrouz (Holland)
