Holland Qualify For Second Round

Holland vs Côte d'Ivoire
Stuttgart

Ivory Coast needed to win this game, if they wanted to stay in the tournament.

Ivory Coast should have had a twelfth minute penalty; when Giovanni Van Bronckhorst clearly held Emmanuel Eboue, as he ran with the ball in the Holland area.

Robin Van Persie earned a free-kick on the edge of the area and converted it himself, to put Holland in front on the 23rd minute.

Three minutes later, Arjen Robben made all the running then, after a one-two on the edge of the area, switched play and sent Ruud van Nistelrooy through; for Holland to double their lead.

Ivory Coast didn't drop their heads, as Didier Zokora hit the post with Van der Sar completely beaten.

Bakari Kone brought Ivory Coast back into the game with a great solo run acroos the middle of the pitch, then a switch left into the area to fire a screamer past Van der Sar.

Didier Drogba's second yellow card of the tournamnet means he will miss Ivory Coast's last group game; against Serbia & Montenegro.

Ivory Coast came so close to equalising just before half-time, as Arouna Kone turned on the edge of the area, but shot over the bar.

Half-time: (2:1).

Ivory Coast continued to look for the equaliser after the break, while Holland countered with a midfield reinforcement.

A 77th minute corner, for the Ivory Coast, was saved off the line by Van Persie's chest.

Two minutes later, Didier Drogba turned on the edge of the area but was just muscled out of a scoring chance.

The final minutes were a tense affair but in the end, Argentina and Holland qualified from Group C; while Ivory Coast and Serbia-Montenegro went out.

Holland vs Argentina will decide who tops the group; Holland need to win, while a draw will be enough for Argentina.

Final Score:
Holland 2 - Côte d'Ivoire 1

Goalscorers:
1:0 Robin Van Persie (23)
2:0 Ruud van Nistelrooy (26)
2:1 Bakari Kone (38)

Teams
Holland: (Captain Edwin Van der Sar)
1 Edwin Van der Sar; 4 Joris Mathijsen, 5 Giovanni Van Bronckhorst, 13 Andre Ooijer, 14 Johnny Heitinga; 8 Phillip Cocu, 18 Mark Van Bommel, 20 Wesley Sneijder; 9 Ruud van Nistelrooy, 11 Arjen Robben, 17 Robin Van Persie.

Côte d'Ivoire: (Captain Didier Drogba)
1 Jean-Jacques Tizie; 3 Arthur Boka, 4 Kolo Toure, 12 Abdoulaye Meite; 5 Didier Zokora, 19 Gneri Yaya Toure, 21 Emmanuel Eboue, 22 Ndri Romaric; 9 Arouna Kone, 11 Didier Drogba, 14 Bakari Kone.

Referee:
Oscar Ruiz (Colombia)