Ivory Coast go out on winning note
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Desperate Cote d'Ivoire laid siege to DPR Korea's goal and eased to a 3-0 win in their 2010 FIFA World Cup Group G match on Friday. But both were out.
Barcelona midfielder Yaya Toure opened the scoring in the 14th minute with a measured effort from the edge of the box that rolled past keeper Ri Myong Guk.
Six minutes later, Boka played a ball into the box and Chelsea striker Drogba controled superbly, pulling the ball down and smashing his shot off the underside of the bar. It bounced clear, but Romaric followed up to head in.
Drogba's Chelsea teammate Salomon Kalou made it 3-0 in the 82nd minute when Boka played a fine ball into the forward and he leapt to meet the ball with his right instep, guiding it past Ri for a fine finish.
Before today's one-sided game, Cote d'Ivoire tied Portugal 0-0 and lost to Brazil 3-1, while DPR Korea were beaten by Brazil 2-1 and whitewashed by Portugal 7-0.
DPR Korea were in serious danger of being swamped in the opening exchanges of this game, and could have suffered another drubbing, but they showed real character to improve in the second half.
There had only been one African win in nine World Cup encounters against Asian opposition. That came in 2002 when Cameroon defeated Saudi Arabia 1-0.
Cote d'Ivoire will regret not pushing for victory in their opening game against Portugal. That 0-0 draw has been their undoing. They were outclassed by Brazil and deserved winners today, but leave Ghana as the only African contenders in the second round
Brazil will now play the team that finishes second in Group H, with Portugal taking on the winners. That group is resolved tonight as Chile play Spain and Switzerland take on Honduras.
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