[1]It was billed as the match that would light up the World Cup but Ivory Coast and Portugal played out a tense goalless draw in the Port Elizabeth Stadium on Tuesday.
The Group G stalemate was almost broken by Cristiano Ronaldo who thumped a post in the first half and then by Didier Drogba who crossed instead of shooting with a late chance.
But in a result that favours Brazil, who play North Korea later in the Ellis Park stadium, neither side was able to break the deadlock.
Sven Goran Eriksson chose not to start with his captain Drogba who broke his arm on just before the World Cup. The Chelsea man started on the bench and Gervinho joined Aruna Dindane and Salomon Kalou in a three-pronged attack.
For Carloz Quieroz’s Portugal, Real Madrid striker Ronaldo was wearing the captain’s armband and looking to end 15 months without an international goal.
Ronaldo wasted his first free-kick with the controversial World Cup ball sending his shot into the wall but on 11 minutes he rattled the post with a thunderous shot from open play with Ivory Coast keeper Boubacar Barry well beaten.
Tempers flared when Guy Demel chopped down Ronaldo on 20 minutes and when the Real Madrid striker reacted angrily he joined Demel in referee’s book.
On 66 minutes it was Kalou who made way for his Chelsea team-mate Drogba. Wearing his Fifa approved cast the Ivory Coast striker was back on the pitch just 11 days after breaking his arm.
Portugal had also made a change with Queiroz bringing to an end Deco’s 75th game for his country and bringing on Tiago.
The introduction of Drogba had lifted the Ivory Coast fans but not the team with Portugal now applying most of the pressure forcing two corners.
Ivory Coast appeared to be tiring badly and midfielder Yaya Toure needed treatment for cramp after making a clearance. Tiene then fouled Ronaldo giving him another free-kick opportunity which he sent just over the bar.
But at the death Ivory Coast found another gear and with the clock running down it was Eriksson’s side who came closest. — dpa
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