Munich, Germany (My Sportsbook) - Cote dIvoire scored on two penalty kicks to defeat 10-man Serbia and Montenegro, 3-2, Wednesday in Munich.
The Ivory Coast came back from two goals behind to pick up its first World Cup victory and avoid the basement in Group C.
Serbia and Montenegro opened the scoring in the 10th minute as forward Nikola Zigic rounded Ivory Coast goalkeeper Boubacar Barry and tapped in the goal. The strike was Serbia and Montenegro's first of the tournament.
Ten minutes later, Sasa Ilic doubled Serbia and Montenegro's lead. The Galatasaray midfielder took advantage of a defensive blunder and fired past a frustrated Barry.
In the 35th minute, the Ivory Coast earned its first goal of the match. Serbia and Montenegro defender Milan Dudic got a hand on Arthur Boka's cross, awarding Aruna Dindane a penalty kick. Dindane stepped up to the line and sent goalkeeper Dragoslav Jevric the wrong way to put away the goal. Referee Marco Rodriguez then made Dindane re-take the kick for encroachment, but the Racing striker had no problem finding the back of the net once again.
A minute before stoppage time, Serbia and Montenegro's squad was cut to ten as substitute Albert Nadj received his second yellow of the half for a challenge on Abdulkader Keita. The 31-year-old midfielder was on the field for only 30 minutes before being ejected.
In the 67th minute, Ivory Coast grabbed the equalizer as Dindane notched his second goal of the match. Abdulkader Keita sailed a cross into the area and Jevric headed it home.
Bonaventure Kalou then sealed the win for the Ivory Coast in the 86th minute. The 27-year-old forward was awarded a penalty kick after his volley was handled by Dudic, who also conceded the penalty for the first goal.
In the final minutes of the match, both teams were down to ten players as Ivory Coast captain Cyril Doromaud was booked with his second yellow card for a challenge on Savo Milosevic.
Also in Group C play on Wednesday, Argentina and the Netherlands finished in a scoreless draw in Frankfurt. The tie gives Argentina the first place spot, and a meeting with Mexico on Saturday, while the Netherlands face the first place team in Group D, Portugal on Sunday.
