21 Jun 2014

Colombia beat Ivory Coast to top World Cup group

11:57 am on 21 June 2014

Colombia have beaten the Ivory Coast 2-1 in yet another action-packed World Cup clash in Brasilia to top group C on six points and move into the knockout phase for the first time since 1990.

After a tight first half the game exploded into life with three goals in nine minutes midway through the second, starting when Colombia's James Rodriguez thumped in a header from a 64th-minute Juan Cuadrado corner.

Juan Quintero ran clear to make it 2-nil after 70 minutes after Rodriguez intercepted an Ivorian clearance but Gervinho cut in through three defenders to score an excellent individual goal three minutes later to halve the deficit.

Colombia held out, though, and top the standings with six points, ahead of Ivory Coast on three.

Greece and Japan, who drew in Natal later, are pointless after their opening game defeats.