27 Jun 2014

Samaras penalty sends Greece through, breaks Ivorian hearts

11:40 am on 27 June 2014

A controversial stoppage time penalty from Giorgios Samaras lifted Greece into the last 16 of the World Cup for the first time with a dramatic 2-1 victory over Ivory Coast in Brazil.

The Africans were seconds away from heading into the second round themselves after Wilfried Bony's 74th minute equaliser looked to have given them the point they needed to progress.

But Samaras went down inside the box following minimal contact with an Ivory Coast defender that made him trip on his own feet.

The referee then awarded the controversial spot kick before Samaras rose to convert the penalty and send his team through to play Costa Rica in the second round.

Substitute Andreas Samaris gave Greece the lead in the 42nd minute beating Boubacar Barry following a mix-up in the Ivory Coast defence.