Ivory Coast fell short of their goal chase to make the last 16 at the World Cup as they beat North Korea 3-0 in their Group G match to continue the exodus of African teams here on Friday.
Chasing down a seemingly impossible nine goals to nudge Portugal out of the last 16 — though it wouldn’t have made a difference in the end as the Portuguese drew with Brazil to finish a point ahead of the ‘Elephants’ — the Ivorians’ goals dried up in the second half against a massed North Korean red wall of defenders.
Ivory Coast joined hosts South Africa, Cameroon, Nigeria and Algeria as first-round casualties with only Ghana carrying on the African cause in the knockout round.
The Ivorians scored twice in the opening half, raising some hopes that they might set sail after the imposing target, but as the smoke drifted in from fires on the surrounding low veld, so did Sven-Goran Eriksson’s team lose their way.
Only Chelsea’s Salomon Kalou, a second half substitute, found the net in the 82nd minute, tucking away a high ball from defender Arthur Boka. The Elephants made a good fist of a vibrant opening half with strikes by Yaya Toure and Romaric among 10 Ivorian shots on target. — AFP