Brazil on the beat to see off Ivorian challenge.

Brazil 3-1 Ivory Coast
FIFA World Cup 2010
Group G
7.30pm BST, Sunday 20 June
Soccer City, Johannesburg

Brazil’s Samba Stars put on a show as they booked their place in the World Cup’s last 16 – but Kaka was dismissed late on to take the gloss off a fine performance by Dunga’s men.

The Real Madrid star had set up two of Brazil’s three goals, two of which were wonderfully taken by Luis Fabiano before Elano made it 3-0.

Didier Drogba pulled a goal back late on, but a game that had a nasty undercurrent to it throughout boiled over in the final stages as Kaka was dismissed for two bookable offences. He will miss Brazil’s final group game against Portugal, while Ivory Coast are now hoping that results elsewhere go their way.

The Ivorians had started well, though, closing down the Brazilians’ forward trio of Fabiano, Kaka and Robinho. But the first time that they did combine the Ivorians were made to pay. Robinho and Kaka created the move, and the latter slipped a through-ball into Fabiano’s path. But the finish was superb as the Sevilla striker smashed his shot with such power that Boubacar Barry could barely move before the ball hit the roof of the net.

And he matched that finish with another quality strike just after the break as he controlled a long ball superbly before chipping the ball over both Didier Zokora and Kolo Toure before lashing past Barry with his left foot to complete a moment of individual brilliance.

Drogba headed inches wide as Ivory Coast attempted to come back into the game, but the result was put to bed when the Samba Stars scored their third.

Kaka has come in for some criticism over his recent performance for the Selecao, but he silenced the doubters with a mazy dribble before crossing for Elano to slide home from inside the six-yard box.

Yet that was to be the former Manchester City midfielder’s final contribution as he was substituted in agony after a poor tackle by Cheik Tiote, and Brazil eased off thinking that their work was done for the night.

But Drogba soon put them right as he reduced the deficit by heading home Yaya Toure’s clever through-ball with just over ten minutes to go.

Yet the game took a nasty turn after that as Kaka was harshly dismissed, with his second yellow card seemingly due to an over-reaction by Kader Keita, who went down holding his face after running in to the Brazilian.

Brazil still held on and are now strong favourites to qualify as Group winners.

Brazil
1 Julio Cesar, 2 Maicon, 3 Lucio (C), 4 Juan, 6 Michel Bastos, 5 Felipe Melo, 7 Elano(13 Alves, 67), 8 Silva, 10 Kaka, 9 Luis Fabiano, 11 Robinho (18 Ramires, 90)

Substitutes not used
12 Gomes, 22 Doni, 14 Luisao, 15 Thiago Silva, 16 Gilberto, 17 Josue, 19 Julio Baptista, 20 Kleberson, 21 Nilmar, 23 Grafite

Goals Fabiano 25, 50, Elano 62

Ivory Coast
1 Barry, 4 Kolo Toure, 17 Tiene, 20 Demel, 21 Eboue (13 Romaric, 72), 5 Zokora, 9 Tiote, 19 Yaya Toure, 8 Kalou (18 Keita, 68), 11 Drogba (C), 15 Dindane (10 Gervinho, 54)

Substitutes not used
16 Zogbo, 23 Yeboah, 2 Benjamin, 3 Boka, 6 Gohouri, 22 Bamba, 12 Gosso, 14 Kone, 7 Doumbia

Goal Drogba 79

Referee
Stephane Lannoy (France)