TOP 100 SOCCER SITES
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| Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini denies rift with Craig Bellamy Man City coach started tenure with win over Stoke and says he has no problem with Craig Bellamy after dropping in-form striker. telegraph.co.uk |
Manchester United's Rio Ferdinand nearing return but Leeds FA Cup clash too soon Central defender not in contention to face former club Leeds United in Sunday's FA Cup third round tie at Old Trafford. telegraph.co.uk |
World Cup 2010: don't condemn South Africa for attack in Angola, says Danny Jordaan World Cup organiser says South Africa should not be condemed for attack on Togo squad which happened in "country far away". telegraph.co.uk |
Ivory Coast 3-1 Ghana Gervinho 22, Tiene 66, Drogba 90 | Gyan 90 (pen)The doubts, at least for now, can be put away. After their rusty start to the competition, Ivory Coast became the first side to reach the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations with a performance that bristled with authority.The sending-off of Arsenal's Emmanuel Eboué briefly threatened to derail them, but just when they needed it, Siaka Tiéné converted a curling free-kick to double their lead and quash Ghana's surge. The Âpressure lifted and the message was clear: this is not merely a talented side, but one with the ability to bend games to their will.They also demonstrated a fine judgment of the prevailing mood, with the goalkeeper Boubacar Barry unfurling a narrow banner to dedicate each goal to the memory of the three members of the Togolese party who died in last Friday's terrorist attack.That Ivory Coast can play powerful, domineering football we knew; what was more impressive last night were the occasional glimpses of swagger. In terms of their outfield play, there have always been two major question marks about them: their temperament and the lack of a creator with the panache to break down sides who set out to defend against them.They responded under pressure here last night, and it may be that they have found their joker. Like many of the Elephants, Gervinho is quick and direct, but he also has something more, a sparkle to match the diamond studs he wears in his ears.The Lille forward's goal last night, knocking the ball into an empty net after Salomon Kalou had squared Yaya Touré's immaculate through-ball after 22 minutes, was unexceptional, but it was his all-round performance that caught the eye before he was the man sacrificed after Eboué's red card.Kalou was the one change to Ivory Coast's side from Monday's goalless draw against Burkina Faso, replacing Bakary Koné, who missed a series of chances. The Chelsea forward seemed to give Ivory Coast a greater balance, a fluency among their front three they had lacked in that opening game. That said, Ghana's young side – four of their starting XI were part of the squad that won the Under-20 World Cup last year – seemed far less defensively sound than Burkina.Until the introduction of Michael Essien, making a tentative and far from convincing return after hamstring trouble, Ivory Coast seemed comfortable, but he added fire to the midfield battle. Didier Zokora could have been sent off for a retributive kick at Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu, and Eboué did go for a horrible lunge through the back of Agyemang Opoku 10 minutes after the break, the first red card of the championship.Matthew Amoah volleyed against the post two minutes later, and as Barry – the goalkeeper still the glaring weak link in the Ivory Coast side – flapped a Kwadwo Asamoah free-kick over, Ghana briefly seemed in the ascendant. Their fight-back, though, was cut off as Tiéné whipped a free-kick in at Richard Kingson's near post.Didier Drogba stretched the lead to three as he headed in Kader Keita's cross in injury-time, and Asamoah Gyan scored a late consolation from the penalty spot after a slightly harsh decision as he had tumbled under Souleymane Bamba's challenge. It did nothing to change the equation, though, which is that Ghana must beat Burkina Faso on Tuesday if they are to reach the last eight.Ghana (4-1-4-1): Kingson; Inkoom, Vorsah, Addo, R Ayew; Narry (Essien, 46); D Ayew (Gyan, 46), Agyemang-Badu, Asamoah, Opoku (Afful, 77); AmoahIvory Coast (4-3-3): Barry; Eboue, K Toure, Bamba, Tiene; Zokora, Y Toure (Fae, 67), Tiote; Gervinho (Demel 60), Drogba, Kalou (Keita, 84)Referee: Jerome Damon (South Africa)Africa Cup of NationsGhanaIvory CoastJonathan Wilsonguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Zuma: No security worries for World Cup South African President Jacob Zuma says his country is ready to ensure security for the World Cup, brushing off fears stemming from the deadly attack on Togo's national soccer team. cbc.ca |