Ivory Coast 2 -1 Japan: 5 Talking Points

Ivory Coast came back from a goal down to pip a disappointing Japanese team and put themselves in the driving seat for a second round spot. A Keisuke Honda stunner seemed to have given Japan the perfect start in the 16thminute, but two headers in two second-half minutes from Wilfried Bony and Gervinho turned things on its head. The Elephants then held on for a well-deserved win. Here are five talking points from the game:

#1 The stars that did not shine

They may have been heralded as stars of their respective teams, but some of them just failed to perform well last night. Their abilities deserted them at a crucial juncture.

Yaya Toure’s team may have won, but he can’t boast of playing any significant role in getting the three points. He was lazy to run after the ball and never seemed anything like his Man City best. Starting as the playmaker in the 4-3-3 formation, Toure was supposed to be the focal point in the Ivorian attacks, but he failed to make an impact as his team tried repeatedly to force the equaliser. Although Toure did last the entire 90 minutes, his performance sparks questions as to whether he should have started at all after an injury scare prior to the game.

For Japan, Shinji Kagawa was the biggest disappointment. For all his attempts at dribbling, he couldn’t break open the Ivorian defence and was invisible for a large part of the match. The Manchester United man struggled to make his mark on the field and he should have been taken off earlier.

Keisuke Honda too wasn’t at his best. He did open the scoring with a great strike, but after that slowly faded into the shadows. In the second half, he continued on the downward curve and he gave away the ball that led to the equaliser. Once Ivory Coast made the turnaround, both Kagawa and Honda failed to surge forward effectively, thus denying Japan any chance of getting back into the game.

#2 Drogba is still the go-to guy

He may be 36, but his country needs him when the going gets tough. Didier Drogba has always been known as a big-game player and once again showed why against Japan.

When the lineups were announced, many eyebrows were raised when Drogba’s name was found among the substitutes. Apparently Ivory Coast coach Sabri Lamouchi did not deem him to be the best starting option, considering his return from injury. But as the Elephants grew weary trying to break down a Japanese defence and overturn the deficit, Lamouchi had to turn to the star man. Drogba made an instant impact seconds after he came on, with a great run into the box, followed by a backheel to Gervinho who fluffed it. Droga seemed to have injected life into the Ivorian attack and minutes later, they were 2-1 up. Of course, Drogba played no direct role in the two Ivorian goals, but most people will agree that it was his introduction that changed the course of the match.

#3 Japan took the lead and paid the price for complacency

It was early in the first half when Keisuke Honda stepped up to blast the ball into the top corner to give Japan the lead. At that moment, it looked like it would be business as usual for the Samurai Blue. But it wasn’t to be.

After the goal, Japan seemed happy to be on the back foot against wave after wave of Ivorian attacks. The likes of Honda and Kagawa should have tried to seize the initiative and get another goal. But the two of them failed to create many chances for that. Japan kept losing posession in midfield and showed no intention to kill off their opponents. To their credit, the Japanese defence held their ground pretty well in the first half. But the failure of their midfield to dictate proceedings meant that they faced way more onslaughts than they could manage. It was only a matter of time before an Ivorian goal arrived.Even after Ivory Coast took the lead, Japan seemed surprisingly reluctant to go all out for a goal. They showed no urgency on and off the ball and it must be said that their opponents found it quite easy in the final twenty minutes of the match.

#4 Aurier rises to the occasion

Arguably the best player on the pitch on the night, Serge Aurier made sure that he lived upto expectations. Before the match, many pundits had singled him out as one to look out for and the Toulouse right-back showed us why.

All night long, he was a nuisance on the right wing with his dangerous crosses creating trouble for Japan’s defence. His pace and energy was too much to handle.Back in defence, he also helped cancel out the threat of Kagawa. But it was his crossing that will take all the plaudits after two pin-point crosses in two minutes threw the game upside down. The first found Wilfried Bony who edged it brilliantly to the right of keeper Kawashima. And then from a similar position, Aurier send the ball to the head of Gervinho whose header went through Kawashima’s hands.

Only 21 years old, Aurier seems to be on his way to stardom. Apparently, Arsene Wenger has noticed. Enough said.

#5 Ivory Coast do themselves no harm; Japan are in trouble

After that well deserved win, Ivory Coast now need only a draw and a win from their remaining two games against Greece and Colombia. And it doesn’t seem impossible. After finding themselves in a ‘Group of Death’ at successive World Cups, this seems to be their best chance to make the Round of 16. They did that chance no harm at all with a fine win over a dispirited Japan side.The Samurai Blue, on the other hand, have a huge task on their hands. A match against Greece is up next for them and they will need to regroup fast and pick up their game if they are to win. Even if they do win, they will probably have to beat Colombia in order to qualify – which, considering the current state of affairs, is a very difficult proposition.