Ivory Coast come from behind for first win

Ivory Coast 3 Serbia and Montenegro 2

Two goals from man-of-the-match Aruna Dindane and a late penalty from substitute Bonaventure Kalou saw the Ivory Coast come from two goals down to end their first World Cup campaign with an impressive, if futile, win.

Early goals from giant striker Nikola Zigic and Sasa Ilic, both the result of poor defending, put Serbia and Montenegro firmly in control in what could be their last match before the country splits into two nations.

However, Dindane’s penalty, following a handball bordering on the ridiculous by Milan Dudic, allowed the African side back into the match while Serbia and Montenegro were then reduced to 10 men before the break by the sending off of substitute Albert Nadj.

Dindane’s second-half header then evened things up and then, when Dudic handled again, another penalty was awarded although Dindane spurned the chance of the first 2006 World Cup hat-trick by allowing Kalou to score the penalty.

Ivory Coast’s Cyrille Domoraud received his marching orders in stoppage time.