Cote d’Ivoire made to sweat by the Samurai Blue

Photo: Gervinho and Drogba celebrate Ivory Coast winner over Japan in their Group C opener in the FIFA World Cup 2014. (Getty Images)

African powerhouse Ivory Coast found it tough against a very disciplined Japanese team in their opening fixture of the 2014 World Cup. The ‘Golden Generation’, in their last chance on the world stage had to fight hard to come from behind to clip the Samurai Blue 2-1 orchestrated by young right back Serge Aurier.

Ivory Coast fashioned the first opening of the game when Gervinho played a great ball into Wilfried Bony, who started ahead of Didier Drogba, but he was closed down by Maya Yoshida. The Southampton defender managed to block his shot and clear the danger. Japan then took the lead in the 11th minute through their star man Keisuke Honda.

Playmaker Shinji Kagawa worked the ball well down the left with Yuto Nagatomo who then played a pass into Honda on top of the penalty. The Milan man took the ball in his stride before unleashing a ripper into the top corner pass Boubacar Barry in goal for the Ivory Coast.

Atsuto Uchida may have doubled the lead but his shot was charged down by Barry after he was played in by Honda. Japan’s captain Makoto Hasebe was controlling the midfield, spraying passes out to Kagawa and Honda trying to catch out the Ivorians.

Gervinho had an opening on 34 minutes but was quickly closed down again by Yoshida who conceded a corner kick. The corner led to a powerful drive from about 30 yards out from Arthur Boka but Eiji Kawashima was equal to the task in goal. Honda then broke down the other end linking-up with Kagawa but his goal-bound shot was deflected for a corner in the 35th minute.

Saloman Kalou should have scored or at least hit the target on 43 minutes but his header from Boka’s delicious cross was misplaced and went out for a goal kick. It was the last meaningful action of the first half even though Kawashima had to make a routine save from another Boka drive outside the penalty area.

French manager Sabri Lamouchi must have given the Ivorians a stern team talk as they came out flying with purpose going forward. Bony had a chance on 48 minutes when Aurier’s shot was deflected into his path but he headed wide. Perhaps a turning point in the game came when Hasebe was replaced by Yasuhito Endo on 53 minutes. The Frankfurt midfielder had some serious injury problems during the season and was a doubt for the World Cup.

Yaya Toure had a claim for a penalty as he stumbled under the challenge of Yoshida following a marauding run through midfield but the referee waved away his appeals. Didier Drogba was introduced on minute 62 and it seemed to be the spark the Elephants needed as Bony found the back of the net in the 65th.

Aurier received a pass from Yaya Toure and the 21 year old whipped in a wonderful cross which the Swansea City striker steered home expertly in the far corner passed Kawashima. Gervinho headed home Aurier’s cross passed Kawashima two minutes later to complete the turn around. Drogba had injected life into the attack but Japan seemed to have lost their shape a bit following the departure of the skipper Makoto Hasebe.

Yaya Toure then started to controll the game in midfield and Cheick Tiote stayed as close to the back four as much as possible to deny the Japanese any space in the hole to penetrate. Drogba could have made it 3-1 on 85 minutes but his shot from in the middle of the penalty area was deflected wide of the target. Japan threw everything they had at Cote d’Ivoire late on, but they could not carve out an opeing and the game ended 2-1.

It was an exciting game which showed that Japan are capable of causing troubles for all the teams in the group. They will be cursing themselves for giving up two goals of the same nature but their coach Alberto Zaccheroni can take many positives from the match. Ivory Coast dug in deep and got a positive start and they will feel they have a great chance to reach the knock-out stages.