World Cup 2010: Brazil 3 Ivory Coast 1

By Martin Samuel in South Africa

Screamer: Luis Fabiano celebrates scoring with team-mate Robinho


Handball twice, or the goal of the tournament so far? Both, probably. It was not exactly a Thierry Henry moment but when Luis Fabiano got the better of Ivory Coast's defence to seal the game in the 50th minute, an accompanying rendition of the Harlem Globetrotters' theme song Sweet Georgia Brown would have been as appropriate as any samba.

And yet, unlike Henry's winner in the World Cup play-off with the Republic of Ireland, Fabiano's goal was hard to begrudge.

First, it ensured a deserved victory for Brazil, arguably the team of the tournament so far. Secondly, the disgraceful way Kader Keita, the Ivory Coast substitute, got Kaka sent off near the end saw all sympathy for the Africans evaporate instantly.

And finally, what Fabiano did with the ball when he was not juggling it with the top of his arm on his way to goal was rather wonderful.

There have not been enough stand-out occasions like this in the 2010 World Cup so far for us not to shine light on the magic of this one.



No stopping that: Luis Fabiano blasts the ball past Boubacar Barry


The fun began with Fabiano winning the ball in the air on the edge of the area, although it may have run accidentally off his arm. From there he lobbed it over left back Siaka Tiene and then more deftly over central defender Didier Zokora. On the other side of Zokora, he appeared to control it as much with his arm again as his chest, but referee Stephane Lannoy played on - well, who would expect a Frenchman to spot a handball?

Now faced with goalkeeper Boubacar Barry, Fabiano finished, smartly, his second of the night.


Double trouble: Luis Fabiano caps his fine run with a cool volleyed finish


Tough on the Ivorians maybe, but he displayed more imagination than some of the teams here put together (England and Italy to name but two). It would be giving benefit of the doubt to say he was trying to play fair and just got lucky; a darker thought would be that Lannoy was too star struck to pay attention to such trifles as the rules.

Having already given the goal he then seemed to be asking Fabiano if he had handballed as they trotted back to the centre circle, getting far from the whole truth in return. Bizarre.


That clinches it: Elano guides home Brazil's third goal from close range


So Fabiano was sly and opportunistic. Keita by contrast was despicable in his behaviour and if there is any justice will play as little part in the third round of group games as unfortunate Kaka, dismissed for a second yellow card for doing, well, nothing.

The game had become scrappy and ill-tempered in its closing minutes when Keita, not looking where he was going, simply ran into the back of Kaka and fell to the ground.He did so, however, clutching his face as if struck off the ball and Lannoy bought it.

Players from both sides did not help, making entreaties for and against Brazil's No 10, but sympathy must favour the Brazilians, who were protesting a great injustice, not the Ivorians, who were attempting to perpetrate one.


Consolation: Didier Drogba nods in Ivory Coast's solitary strike

The dark side prevailed and Lannoy showed blameless Kaka a second yellow. He was on his way off when the red was brandished, a contemptuous laugh his only protest.



Off: Referee Stephane Lannoy shows the red card to Kaka


FIFA's foolish rules will not allow the decision to be revoked, so he will miss the next game in which Brazil, already qualified, will be playing only for supremacy in the group. It is no great loss, except that Kaka was just coming into form having floundered for so long at Real Madrid this season.

As for Keita, one can only hope he is punished as Brazil's play-acting Rivaldo was in 2002. Ivory Coast are all but out - and on this evidence will not be missed - but it would be a travesty if he was allowed to aid even their slender hopes.

When reasons are advanced for Brazil not winning this World Cup, chief among them is often the presence of Fabiano as the main striker. For a country brought up on sublime talents this is perhaps understandable.

Fabiano has had a chequered career, a series of scraps with Sao Paulo, dismal spells in Europe with Rennes and Porto, and five inconsistent years with Sevilla in Spain.

His troubles have seen him spend three years outside the national team, he failed to make the squad for the last World Cup and coming into this game he had failed to score for nine months.Most had him marked down as the weakest link in a team of creation.


In the 25th minute, however, Fabiano begged to differ.

That he disputed this logic in conjunction with another of Brazil's conundrums, Kaka, will be of even greater worry to the competition. Kaka was also being touted as a lame duck, a year of unexpectedly playing second fiddle in Madrid said to have taken a toll on his spirit and sharpness.

How wrong this proved. Kaka's display last night revealed he most surely has the potential to be among the stars of this tournament and the awakening of a towering talent came with the beautifully weighted ball he slipped through for the first goal.

From there, it was the finish that caught the eye, Fabiano's powerful shot flying past Barry and into the net. It took his international record to 26 goals in 38 appearances. Some weak link.Emile Heskey, eat your heart out.

This may not be vintage Brazil, but they are still a team who have faced arguably the toughest test of any in the tournament and come through it, qualifying from the group of death with 90 minutes to spare.

Ivory Coast are the strongest of the African nations here and were considered among the favourites. Instead, they were matched in technique and imagination going forward, equalled in desire and might at the back.

Didier Drogba scored a header for the Ivorians after 79 minutes but it was too late.

Brazil looked irresistible. Never more so than in the 62nd minute when Kaka cut the ball back for Elano to effortlessly snap up his second of the tournament.


source: dailymail