FIFA World Cup 2010 match 29 - Group G
Brazil v Ivory Coast, 20th June - Johannesburg

Brazil: Julio Cesar, Maicon, Lucio, Juan, Michel Bastos, Felipe Melo, Elano (Daniel 67), Silva, Kaka, Luis Fabiano, Robinho (Ramires 90).

Ivoy Coast: Boubacar Copa, Kolo Toure, Tiene, Demel, Eboue (Romaric 72), Zokora, Tiote, Yaya Toure, Kalou (Keita 68), Drogba, Dindane (Gervinho 54).

For all the good will shown towards Brazilian football throughout the world it is amazing how many unpleasant incidents crop up in their games and this match ended up descending into a nasty conclusion for which Brazil must take their share of the blame.

The game itself was eagerly anticipated but rarely keenly fought. The Ivory Coast were mainly toothless despite the return of Didier Drogba who performed as though unconvinced about his own fitness for the most part.

The first half was dominated by Brazil but their play generally lacked true incision although Kaka and Robinho always hinted that they might be about to unlock the Ivorians' defence.

Robinho looked perhaps the most likely to engineer a breakthrough and was close with a shot from outside the box although he might have been better advised looking for a pass.

Midway through the half Brazil did take the lead and it was Robinho and Kaka who created the opening for Luis Fabiano who scored with a thumping finish into the roof of the net from the corner of the six yard box.

Sloppy defending had allowed the chance with Zokora particularly at fault in missing an interception during the build up.

There was little response to this setback from the Ivory Coast and while Dindane did force a save from Julio Cesar from distance the keeper was not unduly troubled.

Half Time: Brazil 1 Ivory Coast 0

Brazil increased their lead five minutes into the second half when Luis Fabiano juggled his way through the Ivory Coast defence to score with another conclusive finish. Juggled is an appropriate description given that two of the touches he made in going through the defence were with his hands. The referee asked him smilingly if he had handled as Fabiano made his way back to the centre for the restart but, not surprisingly, the player did not own up.

This episode may have gone some way to explaining the bitter feeling that quickly came into the game.

There was an increased intensity in the play of both sides as the Ivory Coast belatedly tried to match their opponents in attacking intent.

Dindane produced one fine centre for Drogba but the striker headed wide with a chance he would normally have accepted but the greater threat was still carried by Brazil.

Kaka shot too close to the keeper after combining with Robinho and then got to the byeline to square an inviting ball across goal that was converted by Elano.

Not long afterwards Elano departed on a stretcher after lunging into a challenge and coming off worse as Tiote raised his foot and the bad feeling between the sides intensified further.

Drogba did pull a goal back for the Ivory Coast with a smart header from Yaya Toure's precise centre but football seemed to be forgotten as the game descended into chaos as the final whistle approached.

The upshot of this was a red card for Kaka. The Brazilian got himself involved stupidly in one clash and was perhaps lucky to only see yellow after thrusting his knee then his hand into an opponent but was then very unlucky to see a second yellow card when an opponent ran into him before going down theatrically.

Overall it was hard to feel sympathy for anyone as both sets of players began behaving like children in a genuinely unpleasant finale.

The final whistle was welcome relief and the result meant that Brazil are certainly through and the Ivory Coast are almost certainly out.

Full Time: Brazil 3 Ivory Coast 1

Brazil: Julio Cesar 6, Maicon 6, Lucio 6, Juan 6, Michel Bastos 7, Felipe Melo 6, Elano 7 (Daniel 6), Silva 5, Kaka 7, Luis Fabiano 8, Robinho 8.

Ivoy Coast: Boubacar Copa 5, Kolo Toure 6, Tiene 4, Demel 7, Eboue 3 (Romaric 6), Zokora 4, Tiote 4, Yaya Toure 6, Kalou 4 (Keita 5), Drogba 6, Dindane 6 (Gervinho 6).

Referee: Stephane Lannoy (France) 1
Made a rod for his own back by having a laugh with Luis Fabiano after the striker had handled twice before scoring a goal which the official allowed to stand. Sending a player off without having seen the incident at all was also found to be a bad move.

Good: Fabiano's finish from a tight angle for the first goal. Not a bad way to end a bit of a lean spell.

Bad: Missing two handballs in the same attack is pretty poor from any official.

Ugly: The last ten minutes when the game threatened to degenerate into all out warfare. Nobody came out of that with much credit.