Dramatic Ivory Coast elimination
Ivory Coast only needed a draw to qualify for the last 16 of the World Cup but were undone by a last minute penalty decision, which Greek striker Giorgos Samaras converted to put the 2004 European champion through to the last 16.
Samaras was thought to have brought down by Giovanni Sio in the 91st min, although replays suggests that any contact made was minimal at the most.
He the stepped up to put the ball past a flailing Ivory Coast goalkeeper before being mobbed by his team-mates.
It proved the last act of a thrilling Group C finale which Greece had led following Andreas Samaris’s strike near half-time.
Greece's lead was then cancelled out when Ivory Coast's Wilfried Bony equalised.
The Swansea City striker’s goal looked enough to take Ivory Coast through but Samaras’s penalty lifted Greece from bottom place to second, thanks also to Colombia’s 4-1 win over Japan.
Greece will take on surprise package Costa Rica on June 30.
Source: AFP, Reuters
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