0' Final matches in Group C now, and of course its Colombia who are already through and likely topping the group. Both Greece and Japan needing wins and help to make it through. Ivory Coast are through with a win, and are through with a draw and a Japanese loss or a draw and a Japanese win of either 1-0 or 2-1. Colombia have looked strong in both of their matches thus far. So have the Ivory Coast, and both Japan and Greece will have to dig deep to find some special goal scoring if they want to move on. The winner of the group plays Uruguay in the next round, whereas the runner up plays Costa Rica.
15' Relatively tame play from both sides in the Greece Ivory Coast match, although the Greek keeper seems to be dealing with a back problem. That could prove costly. A penalty awarded to Colombia for a poor tackle in the box by a Japanese defender, and the strike taken into the center of the net and Colombia are on their way to winning the group.
30' Well neither team really willing to send many troops forward in fear of the counterattack in the Greece Ivory Coast match. Greece again needing a win, and a big one at that to go through. Finally on the counterattack, they nearly score. Its a beautiful shot from a through pass that beats the keeper but unfortunately hits the crossbar and bounces back off. Greece just not with good luck so far this tournament. Japan nearly scoring off a free kick in the other match, and they are looking strong on the attack. Colombia know they're through, and perhaps they aren't too bothered with the results either way.
41' Well its Samaris who finds Greece's first goal of the tournament. It's a mistake in Ivory Coast defense to give the ball away, and Samaris finishes nice to beat the keeper. And with Japan losing currently to Colombia, Greece are through if they can hold on to the win. Ivory Coast needing a goal now, and we're due for a very exciting second half.
45' And Japan finding goal now, its a beautiful header into the near post that the keeper can only get a slight hand too. All things level entering the half, and that'll make the Japanese task a bit easier in the second half. If Japan can manage the win, Greece will have to win by 3 to get even on goal differential with Japan. Exciting story lines in both matches, and plenty left to play for in the second halves.
55' The Japanese brought back to reality, its a second goal from Colombia. A beautiful piece of passing in the box finds a striker unmarked, and the shot send back across goal to the far post. That's poor defending from the Japanese, and they'll have to find two goals now if they want to go through. Greece and Ivory Coast playing a very open game. Ivory Coast playing strong on the attack, but Greece with a few dangerous opportunities on the counterattack.
70' Ivory Coast threatening well but Greece looking the more likely to score. They were unlucky again on a Karagounis shot that careens off the crossbar. Greece still reluctant to send men forward and Ivory Coast unable to counter a Greek counterattack. Passing will in the box though, and Finally they find their goal. Its beautiful passing and Gervinho finds Bony who slots it just past the keeper. The pressure back on Greece now, and the real question is can they score when Ivory Coast are staying back in defense now that they no longer need a goal. Japan still unable to find much luck against the Colombians, and the Colombians nearly scoring again on a few occasions. It looks like Japan are experiencing their last minutes in this tournament, while Greece now has 15 minutes plus stoppage time to find a goal or get sent home.
82' The Japanese dream nearly at an end, and its Colombia who are minutes away from becoming only the third South American team to win all their opening round group matches. Its a beautiful piece of play by Jackson, who chases down a long ball, brings it back onto his left foot on first touch and the slots it home. A brilliant piece of striking. And an interesting substitution, the Colombians send in their backup goal keeper for an international curtain call on the worlds largest stage. Its the 43 year old Mondragon who will finish off goalkeeping duties for his country.
90' Oh my its its another goal for the Colombians, they are putting on a show for their supporters. Japan simply unable to recover and defend the counterattack, and its a brilliant piece of footwork and dribbling by Rodriguez to create a little space before he beats the keeper.
90+1' And drama in the other match, its a penalty thats awarded to Greece. It was a beautiful ball in to space in the box, and Samaras gets tripped from behind before he can take a shot. And its Samaras himself that steps up to the spot and converts the penalty. Its a beautiful shot that just makes it past the keeper's outstretched hands. Ivory Coast suffering a tragic last second defeat.
Final' Japan testing Mondragon before its over and he finishes his international career with a great save as a Japanese attacker sees his way into space. Greece through as well on a last minute penalty, and Ivory Coast so agonizingly close, and they'll be disappointed to be going home early. Greece earning a date with Costa Rica in the knockout rounds, their first appearance in the World Cup where they've gone past the group stage.
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