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On Saturday, the first group C World Cup matches took place, where the teams of Argentina and Ivory Coast met. In a lively match, Argentina secured victory with a score of 2-1, with goals scored by Hernan Crespo and Javier Saviola for Argentina, and a consolation goal scored by Ivory Coast's team leader Didier Drogba.
Hamburg AOL Arena, 49480 spectators Referee - Frank De Bleeckere (Belgium) Argentina 2 - 1 Ivory Coast 24' [1 - 0] Hernan Crespo 38' [2 - 0] Javier Saviola 82' [2 - 1] Didier Drogba
Argentina: Abbondanzieri; Burdisso, Ayala, Heinze, Sorin; Maxi, Mascherano, Cambiasso, Riquelme (93' Aimar); Saviola (76' Gonzalez), Crespo (64' Palacio).
Ivory Coast: Tizie; Eboue, K.Toure, Meite, Boka; Akale (62' Kone), Zokora, Keita (77' Kone), Y.Toure; Kalou (56' Dindane), Drogba.
At the beginning of the match, both teams immediately started playing actively and aggressively, and the Ivorians had the first opportunity - already in the 3rd minute after a pass from the left flank, Didier Drogba of London's "Chelsea" striker, shot the ball over the goal. Later, the Ivory Coast footballers launched several dangerous attacks, but failed to produce anything useful. Arthur Boka, Didier Zokora, and Kanga Akale played particularly actively (in all matches).
The first goal of the match for the Argentinians was scored from a set piece. After a cross from the left flank, a penalty kick was taken, as always in such situations, by J.R. Riquelme, whose "floated" ball after a rough Ivorian defender mistake landed in front of a wide-open Hernan Crespo, who had nothing else to do but send it into the goal.
After conceding the goal, the Ivory Coast players attacked even more eagerly, and Bonaventure Kalou had two quite dangerous shots. Later, Didier Drogba had a great chance, but at the last moment, the ball was kicked away from his feet by Roberto Ayala.
One of the best chances for the Ivory Coast team to score was when Abdulas Kaideras Keita received a great long pass from Drogba, but the "Lille" player's header went well wide of Abbondanzieri's goal.
However, the Argentinians scored the second goal of the match as well. In the 38th minute of the match, Javier Saviola received a great pass from Riquelme, found himself one-on-one with the goalkeeper, and he had nothing else to do but direct the ball into the goal.
J.Saviola could have also created the third goal - at the beginning of the second half, he deceived several Ivorian defenders and broke through the flank, passing to Maxi Rodriguez, but his shot was off target.
Ivory Coast coach Henri Michel soon sent Aruna Dindane onto the field, who brought a lot of energy to the team's attacks. After one of his passes, D.Drogba could have scored, but his header was not very strong. D.Drogba later created another opportunity, but his shot into the penalty area was inaccurate.
The consolation goal for the Ivory Coast team was created by Arune Dindane and Bakari Kone, who appeared in the second half. Kone broke into the penalty area, passed to Dindane, who after passing to D.Drogba, the London "Chelsea" striker sent the ball into the goal from about 11 meters away.
In the final moments of the match, the Ivorians tried to snatch at least a point in these matches, but Argentina's eleven managed to defend and secure the first victory.
Match statistics Shots on goal 4 - 3 Shots off target 4 - 8 Blocked shots 2 - 7 Corners 3 - 6 Fouls 15 - 17 Offsides 6 - 0 Yellow cards 3 - 2 Red cards 0 - 0 Pass accuracy 78.4% - 80.7% Successful tackles 20 - 13 Ball possession 49.2% - 50.8%
