Ivory Coast’s post-Sven Goran Eriksson era got off to a winning start as Kolo Toure’s header saw an experimental Italy side beaten 1-0 in a friendly international at Upton Park in London on Tuesday.
While there was nothing at stake on a sodden night in east London, the Ivory Coast players will have had in the back of their minds the upcoming 2012 African Nations Cup qualifiers. Interim Ivory Coast coach Francois Zahoui, assuming he is still in charge for the first qualifier against Rwanda early next month, will have been pleased by the showing of his side against an Italy team keen to start afresh following a poor World Cup campaign.
Zahoui continued where his predecessor Eriksson left off, with every member of his starting line-up having traveled to South Africa. Four members of the team who started the Elephants’ last game, a 3-0 victory over North Korea in Durban, were included in the first 11 at the home ground of English Premier League side West Ham. As well as Gervinho and Didier Zokora, Kolo Toure and his brother Yaya were involved from the start, with the latter playing his second game in England following his transfer from Barcelona to Manchester City.
PHOTO: AFP
Italy were close to going ahead just two minutes into the game, after the Azzurri were awarded a free-kick just outside the box for Didier Zokora’s handball.
However, Mario Balotelli, one of three Italians making their debut under new coach Cesare Prandelli, fired just over the bar. Balotelli was at the heart of Italy’s early attacks, prompting thoughts of what might have been had he not been controversially overlooked by Marcello Lippi for his country’s World Cup campaign.
Salomon Kalou enjoyed the Ivorians’ first chance on goal, 12 minutes into the game, following Gervinho’s perfectly-weighted offload, only for the striker’s shot to be deflected wide by Marco Motta.
Three minutes later Gervinho tested Italian goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu with a low shot.
However, Italy, with the Brazil-born Amauri making his debut up front, looked dangerous on the break and on set-pieces.
On the half-hour, both teams missed easy chances, first Gervinho after a clever back-heel from Seydou Doumbia put him in front of an open goal only for the Lille forward to slice wide. Then, after Italy broke from the resulting goal-kick, Balotelli dove for a close-range header but somehow managed to nudge the ball wide of the post. Straight after half-time Antonio Cassano linked well with Motta to put the full-back through on goal, only for him to hit the post.
However, just as Italy seemed to be gaining the upper hand, Kolo Toure was the man to break the deadlock 10 minutes into the second half. Guy Demel floated a cross from the left for the Manchester City defender to head past Sirigu and spark celebrations from the Ivory Coast-supporters among the 11,176-strong crowd.
Prandelli made changes, but although two of his substitutes, Marco Borriello and Mattia Cassani got close, Italy couldn’t equalize.
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