June 10, 2006
GALLOPING GAUCHOS
Riquelme leads Argentina past Ivory Coast

HAMBURG, Germany — Despite losing a pair of early scoring chances to controversial referee decisions, Argentina defeated the Ivory Coast 2-1 Saturday at AOL Arena.

After one half of play, and two goals orchestrated by midfield maestro Juan Roman Riquelme, the game looked like an Argentine runaway. In the 24th minute, Riquelme lofted a 20-yard free kick into a goalmouth crowd. The ball caromed off two players before rebounding back to Hernan Crespo, who poked a shot past ‘keeper Jean-Jacques Tizie from close range. In the 38th minute, Riquelme threaded a free kick through the defensive wall from 35 yards to a breaking Javier Saviola, who one-touched the ball past Tizie from the penalty spot.

The goals came as sweet revenge after a pair of questionable referee decisions cost the South Americans a penalty kick and am apparent goal in the 14th minute. The first controversy came when the referee missed an apparent handball by an Ivory Coast defender in the box, opting to award a corner kick to Argentina rather than a spot kick. Tizie bobbled Crespo’s point-blank header off the corner kick, and the ball appeared to pass over the goal line before he could regain control, but play was allowed to continue.

The first half was played at a racehorse pace by both teams, and reflected the bump-and-run style favored by both South American and African teams. The Ivory Coast carried much of the early momentum, and had their share of quality scoring chances before the intermission, but were unable to finish. In the 20th minute, Didier Zokora had room on the left side of the box, but attempted an ill-advised cross rather than taking the shot, relinquishing possession to the Argentines. Ten minutes later, striker Bonaventure Kalou worked a neat give-and-go into the box, but sent a weak shot wide of the net. The Elephants’ best opportunity came in the 35th minute, when Chelsea star Didier Drogba’s header found Abdoul Kader Keita directly in front of the goal. Argentina netminder Roberto Abbondanzieri was up to the challenge, trapping the sharp shot between his legs just off the goalline.

The Elephants lost their spark after halftime, allowing Argentina to dictate the momentum and having little solution for Argentina’s patient, keep-away style. For most of the half, Drogba was left high-and-dry on the frontline, where he was easily taken out of the game by two or even three Argentina defenders. In response, he dropped back into midfield, and after a flurry of bad passes and ineffective free kicks, cut Argentina’s lead in half in the 83rd minute with a left-footed volley from close range.

Drogba’s goal, plus an offside call on Maximiliano Rodriguez that negated an apparent third goal by Argentina in the 85th minute, added suspense to the closing minutes, but could not change the ultimate outcome.

Argentina
Roberto Abbondanzieri; Roberto Ayala, Juan Sorin, Gabriel Heinze, Nicolas Burdisso; Esteban Cambiasso, Javier Mascherano, Juan Riquelme (Pablo Aimar-89), Maxi Rodriguez; Javier Saviola (Luis Gonzalez-74), Hernan Crespo (Rodrigo Palacio-63).

Ivory Coast
Jean-Jacques Tizie; Arthur Boka, Kolo Toure, Abdoulaye Meite, Emmanuel Eboue; Kanga Akale (Bakary Kone-61), Didier Zokora, Kadar Keita (Arouna Kone-76), Yaya Toure; Bonaventure Kalou (Aruna Dindane-54), Didier Drogba.

Goals
Argentina -- Hernan Crespo 24
Argentina -- Javier Saviola 38
Ivory Coast -- Didier Droga 82

Discipline
Argentina -- Javier Saviola (yellow card) 41
Argentina -- Gabriel Heinze (yellow card) 48
Ivory Coast -- Emmanuel Eboue (yellow card) 62
Argentina -- Luis Gonzalez (yellow card) 81
Ivory Coast -- Didier Drogba (yellow card) 91+

Attendance -- 49,480