Ivorian comeback shocks Serbians
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
Article summary
Ivory Coast 3-2 Serbia and Montenegro The European side let a two-goal lead slip to finish without a point at the foot of Group C.
Article body
Serbia and Montenegro's FIFA World Cup disappointment continued as they let a two-goal lead slip against Ivory Coast to finish without a point at the foot of Group C.
Žigić opener
Following a 1-0 loss to the Netherlands and 6-0 defeat by Argentina, the Serbians were seemingly on target to end their stay in Germany on a high when their towering striker Nikola Žigić controlled a long ball from Dejan Stanković in the tenth minute, rounded goalkeeper Boubacar Barry and stroked in his country's first goal of the tournament.
Dindane involved
Ivorian striker Aruna Dindane missed an excellent chance to level in the 19th minute and the European side punished that profligacy almost immediately as Saša Ilić pounced on a fumbled clearance by Ivory Coast's stand-in captain Cyrille Domoraud from a Predag Djordjević cross. Dindane made amends in the 36th minute from the spot, though, after Milan Dudić had handled in the area.
Kalou winner
The impetus swung the way of the Africans when Albert Nadj picked up a second yellow card in added time at the end of the first half and the second was all about the team in orange, as Dindane equalised in the 67th minute to pave the way for Bonaventure Kalou's winning penalty four minutes from time.
