The match report from Group E, as Ivory Coast beat Curacao to book their place in the knockout stages of the FIFA World Cup for a first time ever
Perhaps to the surprise of some, the first opportunity of the game came from Curacao, when former Manchester United academy player Tahith Chong stung the palms of the goalkeeper from range.
However, despite a positive, front footed approach from the debutants - it would take just seven minutes of this encounter for Ivory Coast to take the lead. Persistent work from Yan Diomande - coupled with some really poor defending - saw the RB Leipzig winger in space and able to cut the ball back for Nicolas Pepe to fire home from close range.
Nicolas Pepe opens the scoring // REUTERSAfter 18 minutes, Diomande should have had a second assist of the game, but his cutback towards Amad Diallo was taken off the latter's toe by a team mate at the last second. A real missed opportunity there for the Ivorians.
Curacao's next closest opportunity of the half came a little over five minutes from time, when talisman Chong's long range effort went just wide of the goal. A few minutes later, Leandro Bacuna dragged wide when well placed. That would be that for the first 45 minutes, and Ivory Coast would go into the break a goal to the good.
After nearly twenty minutes of nothing happening in the second half, Ivory Coast would double the lead after 64 minutes. A nice through ball from Ibrahim Sangare found Pepe whose first touch got the ball out of his feet perfectly, before curling a left footed effort into the top corner. A really well taken goal from the former Arsenal man.
From there, the 2023 AFCON champions saw things out fairly comfortably, despite one or two half chances for Curacao. You can mention the opponents, but they did score vs Germany, and got a draw vs Ecuador - a team who have just beaten Germany themselves. They're not absolutely terrible.
Plus, when you have never qualified for the knockouts before, you don't mind how it comes. In the end, the Ivorians have finished second in their group, with two wins, six points - the same amount as Germany. If not for some better finishing vs Julian Nageslmann's side, they could have ended up winning the group.
Ivory Coast will play second place in Group L: One of England, Croatia or Ghana on the 30th at 18:00 BST for their maiden game in the World Cup knockout stages. That game will take place at the Mercedez Benz stadium down South in Atlanta.
