Greece 2, Ivory Coast 1: Greeks advance to knockout stage for first time

Greece is into the round of 16 at the World Cup for the first time after a late penalty powered them to a 2-1 win over Cote D’Ivoire in Fortaleza.

Giovanni Sio fouled Georgios Samaras in the box late into added time. Initial replays indicated Les Elephants were hard done by, but conclusive angles showed the truth, a foul was committed and Samaras made sure it counted, coolly slotting it home to ensure history was made.

The Goals

Goal! Andreas Samaris (Greece) 42 min. Cheick Tiote makes a brutal pass that results in a turnover. Samaras collects the ball and plays a perfectly weighted pass to substitute Andreas Samaris, who easily beats Boubacar Barry. Greece’s first goal of the tournament puts them in position to qualify for the knockout round.

Goal! Wilfried Bony (Cote D’Ivoire) 74 min. Sabri Lamouchi’s gamble pays off. Bony, who replaced Tiote, scores his second goal of the tournament and arguably the biggest in the Cote D’Ivoire’s history. Gervinho is the playmaker, playing Bony through in alone on Panagiotis Glikos. The Swansea star makes it count, depositing the ball in the bottom left corner.

Goal! Georgios Samaras (Greece) 90 min. Cote D’Ivoire’s first trip to the round of 16 is derailed. Samaras is awarded a penalty after substitute Giovanni Sio appears to make contact with the Greek forward. Replays indicate Samaras stubbed his foot in the ground, causing himself to fall to ground. Samaras buries the penalty, pushing Greece into the round of 16 for the first time

Man of the Match - Georgios Samaras

Greek Jesus delivered his people to the promised land, the round of 16 at the World Cup, for the first time. He played a major role in Greece’s first goal, setting up Andreas Samaris’ marker in the 42nd minute.

The Greek attack went through the Celtic forward, who, along with fellow veteran Giorgos Karagounis, powered Fernando Santos’ side to a surprising lead at the half. Greece pressed up the pitch, unlike past iterations of the national team. In the end, Samaras’ cool head prevailed after the controversial penalty was awarded. When asked what was going through his head before the decisive kick, Samaras was blunt. "Nothing at all. It was a total blackout."

The Controversy

Not hard to find one here. Sio clipped Samaras' trailing leg in the box, causing the Greek forward to dig his left foot into the turf. Initial television replays indicated Samaras caused his own demise, but better angles showed Die lunge in, catching Samaras’ shooting foot. It was a penalty. Cote D’Ivoire head coach Sabri Lamouchi and star Yaya Toure admitted this was the easiest draw Les Elephants ever had at the World Cup. They failed to perform. The way it ended was especially painful, but it shouldn’t have come to this.

Lamouchi resigned following the match.

What did Greece do to win?

Greece was unlucky, hitting the crossbar twice. Cote D’Ivoire, for all of their attacking prowess, ceded the midfield to the Hellas. Giorgos Karagounis, at age 37(!), got the better of Yaya Toure.

They didn’t sit back, even after going in front just before halftime. For that, the Greeks should be commended.

The Takeaway

Just as we expected, Greece and Costa Rica will face off at the Arena Pernambuco in Recife. Greece and Costa Rica will face off in the knockout round at a World Cup. As if this tournament hasn’t been crazy enough.

Greece makes history, while Cote D’Ivoire is denied a defining moment of their own. This game can be amazing and cruel, all at the same time. Supporters of Les Elephants will not want to hear about the “joy of sport” on this day.

The 1,000 Words

Stray Thoughts

Wilfried Bony made an instant impact after coming on in the 74th minute. Lamouchi will wonder what could have been if he started the Swansea forward from the beginning.

Greece did extremely well after they were forced to make two substitutions early on. Forward Panagiotis Kone and goalkeeper Orestis Karnezis couldn’t make it through the first half, forcing Santos’ hand. Their replacements did extremely well.

Cote D’Ivoire’s golden generation go out in the worst of ways. Didier Drogba had his moments, but at 36 the pace just wasn’t there. Yaya Toure looked tired, both physically and mentally, throughout the group stage. This may be the last time we see them at a World Cup and that’s a shame.

Honorable Man of the Match mention for Greece’s Jose Chovelas, who was terrific throughout the match. The defender nearly recorded a golazo in the first half, only to be denied by the crossbar.