Confident Ivory Coast overcomes Japanese Resistance.
Final Score
Ivory Coast 2- Japan 1 (Honda 16')
Bony (64')
Gervinho (66')
Both teams played with patient confident passing. Kagawa and Honda lead the attacks for Japan. Yaya Toure played anchoring role for Ivory Coast while Aurier and Gervinho paced at front. Initially Bony lacked precision and positioning. In the 14', Japan's corner was dangerously close and cleared by strong Ivory Coast defense. Even with great positioning from Africans, Japanese midfielders seem to be free with space in the midfield. The gallery was filled with screaming spectators, Ivory Coast fans beating African drum, singing and dancing. The goal came silenting the drums, in the 16th min, from a throw from left wing. Honda, with receiving touch deceived his marker, moved into the box to blast the ball into the net with left foot. 1-0.
Japan showed top deadly passing game. In the 22', Die Serey run with ball from his ball to the opponent area, and got fowled by Yoshida. The resulting free kick was taken by Yaya Toure, just outside box, went over bar. In the 30', they got another free kick, which Japan thought Yaya Toure will take again, but surprised by Boka, and went out very close to post. Kagawa and Honda came up with a good connecting move in the 37', but Bamba stood tall to fail them. Experienced Kalou got a free header wide off the target, in the 42'.
In the second half, Ivory Coast changed some tactics. In the 47', Kalou's shot got deflected from Japanese defenders, which came as an opportunity for header to Gony, but went off target. Ento, who is like Pirlo of Japan, replaced injured captain Hosebe in the 53rd min. Yaya Toure dribbled in to the Japan box,in the 57', and fell but referee denied penalty. While it looked like Japan calmly enjoying their lead, Ivory Coast brought in the super striker Drogba. Suddenly it gave a boost to the team. As soon as he came in, got ball, made a good run into the box, following a great back pass, which was a clear scoring chance but wasted. Then, they scored twice in two minutes. Equaliser came in the 64', Gony connecting a fabulous cross from Aurier. Aurier provided another lovely cross in the 66', this time Gervincho scoring. It was a poor goal keeping byKawashima, the ball went through his hands. 2-1.
But he efficiently punched out an excellent free kick by Drogba in the 80'. Even down to 2-1 lead, Japan continued their cool sparkless attacks using midfield but couldnot find goal again.
Japan
1. Kawashima
2. Uchida
4. Honda
5. Nagatomo
6. Masato Morishige
9. Okazaki
10. Kagawa >< 11. Kakitani
16. Yamaguchi
17. Hasebe >< 7. Endo
18. Osako >< Okubo
22. Yoshida
coach: Alberto Zacheroni
Ivory Coast
1. Boubacar Barry
3. Arthur Boka >< 18. Djakpa
5. Zokora
8. Solamon Kalou
19. Yaya Toure
9. Tiote
10. Gervinho
12. Bony >< 13. Konan Ya
17. Aurier
20. Die Serey >< 11. Drogba
22. Bamba
coach: Sabri Lamouchi
Final Score
Ivory Coast 2- Japan 1 (Honda 16')
Bony (64')
Gervinho (66')
Both teams played with patient confident passing. Kagawa and Honda lead the attacks for Japan. Yaya Toure played anchoring role for Ivory Coast while Aurier and Gervinho paced at front. Initially Bony lacked precision and positioning. In the 14', Japan's corner was dangerously close and cleared by strong Ivory Coast defense. Even with great positioning from Africans, Japanese midfielders seem to be free with space in the midfield. The gallery was filled with screaming spectators, Ivory Coast fans beating African drum, singing and dancing. The goal came silenting the drums, in the 16th min, from a throw from left wing. Honda, with receiving touch deceived his marker, moved into the box to blast the ball into the net with left foot. 1-0.
Japan showed top deadly passing game. In the 22', Die Serey run with ball from his ball to the opponent area, and got fowled by Yoshida. The resulting free kick was taken by Yaya Toure, just outside box, went over bar. In the 30', they got another free kick, which Japan thought Yaya Toure will take again, but surprised by Boka, and went out very close to post. Kagawa and Honda came up with a good connecting move in the 37', but Bamba stood tall to fail them. Experienced Kalou got a free header wide off the target, in the 42'.
In the second half, Ivory Coast changed some tactics. In the 47', Kalou's shot got deflected from Japanese defenders, which came as an opportunity for header to Gony, but went off target. Ento, who is like Pirlo of Japan, replaced injured captain Hosebe in the 53rd min. Yaya Toure dribbled in to the Japan box,in the 57', and fell but referee denied penalty. While it looked like Japan calmly enjoying their lead, Ivory Coast brought in the super striker Drogba. Suddenly it gave a boost to the team. As soon as he came in, got ball, made a good run into the box, following a great back pass, which was a clear scoring chance but wasted. Then, they scored twice in two minutes. Equaliser came in the 64', Gony connecting a fabulous cross from Aurier. Aurier provided another lovely cross in the 66', this time Gervincho scoring. It was a poor goal keeping byKawashima, the ball went through his hands. 2-1.
But he efficiently punched out an excellent free kick by Drogba in the 80'. Even down to 2-1 lead, Japan continued their cool sparkless attacks using midfield but couldnot find goal again.
Japan
1. Kawashima
2. Uchida
4. Honda
5. Nagatomo
6. Masato Morishige
9. Okazaki
10. Kagawa >< 11. Kakitani
16. Yamaguchi
17. Hasebe >< 7. Endo
18. Osako >< Okubo
22. Yoshida
coach: Alberto Zacheroni
Ivory Coast
1. Boubacar Barry
3. Arthur Boka >< 18. Djakpa
5. Zokora
8. Solamon Kalou
19. Yaya Toure
9. Tiote
10. Gervinho
12. Bony >< 13. Konan Ya
17. Aurier
20. Die Serey >< 11. Drogba
22. Bamba
coach: Sabri Lamouchi
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