A Didier Drogba header could not prevent Ivory Coast losing 3-1 to Brazil at the World Cup on Sunday evening.
The Chelsea forward headed home with just over 10 minutes remaining in Johannesburg, by which time the Brazilians were already three goals up through a double from Luis Fabiano and Elano.
Salomon Kalou was also a starter for the Ivorians, but was withdrawn from his left-wing role with just over 20 minutes remaining.
After 24 minutes as a substitute against Portugal last week, Drogba was deemed fit to start against the Brazilians by coach Sven Goran Eriksson.
It was Brazil who threatened first, when inside the opening minute, Robinho, still registered with Manchester City, burst forward and shot a yard over the crossbar.
Despite their reputation as Africa's pre-eminent side, Brazil would be a tall order for Les Elephants and nobody faced a harder task than Drogba, who was marked by Inter's defensive man-mountain Lucio.
After firing a speculative free-kick deep into the stand behind the goal, Drogba managed to draw a foul from his marker down the left channel, though the cross eventually came to nothing.
Though Ivory Coast had their fair share of possession in the middle of the park, Brazil were beginning to profit down the flanks, as twice Maicon earned corners as he burst down the right, Kalou given the thankless task of pursuing him.
With 25 minutes gone Brazil's attacking pair of Kaka and Luis Fabiano could boast no major action, but then they showed just why they are so highly-rated, in an instant exchanging passes and putting their country in front.
Kaka slipped the ball through the Ivory Coast backline and Fabiano, who had not scored in nine international months beforehand, smashed home from an acute angle past Boubacar Barry.
It could have got worse for the Africans shortly afterwards, but Drogba rose high to head Elano's cross away. His aerial abilities so often demonstrated at Stamford Bridge transferred effectively to South Africa.
His impact was now needed at the other end though, but Ivory Coast were struggling to gain ground, Kalou and Aruna Dindane on the other flank finding space hard to come by, and the midfield trio of Yaya Toure, Ismael Tiote and Didier Zokora lacking craft.
The Chelsea forward headed home with just over 10 minutes remaining in Johannesburg, by which time the Brazilians were already three goals up through a double from Luis Fabiano and Elano.
Salomon Kalou was also a starter for the Ivorians, but was withdrawn from his left-wing role with just over 20 minutes remaining.
After 24 minutes as a substitute against Portugal last week, Drogba was deemed fit to start against the Brazilians by coach Sven Goran Eriksson.
It was Brazil who threatened first, when inside the opening minute, Robinho, still registered with Manchester City, burst forward and shot a yard over the crossbar.
Despite their reputation as Africa's pre-eminent side, Brazil would be a tall order for Les Elephants and nobody faced a harder task than Drogba, who was marked by Inter's defensive man-mountain Lucio.
After firing a speculative free-kick deep into the stand behind the goal, Drogba managed to draw a foul from his marker down the left channel, though the cross eventually came to nothing.
Though Ivory Coast had their fair share of possession in the middle of the park, Brazil were beginning to profit down the flanks, as twice Maicon earned corners as he burst down the right, Kalou given the thankless task of pursuing him.
With 25 minutes gone Brazil's attacking pair of Kaka and Luis Fabiano could boast no major action, but then they showed just why they are so highly-rated, in an instant exchanging passes and putting their country in front.
Kaka slipped the ball through the Ivory Coast backline and Fabiano, who had not scored in nine international months beforehand, smashed home from an acute angle past Boubacar Barry.
It could have got worse for the Africans shortly afterwards, but Drogba rose high to head Elano's cross away. His aerial abilities so often demonstrated at Stamford Bridge transferred effectively to South Africa.
His impact was now needed at the other end though, but Ivory Coast were struggling to gain ground, Kalou and Aruna Dindane on the other flank finding space hard to come by, and the midfield trio of Yaya Toure, Ismael Tiote and Didier Zokora lacking craft.
Five minutes into the second half, Fabiano doubled the advantage with a fine solo goal, flicking the ball over three Ivorian defenders and lashing low into the bottom corner, a sucker blow.
Drogba had his first decent sight of goal three minutes later, a deep cross reaching him at the far post but his header lacked precision and fell wide.
At the other end Barry saved from Robinho before Elano made the three points safe for the Brazilians, slotting home just after the hour following Kaka's square ball into space.
Kalou was withdrawn with a quarter of the game to go, and 10 minutes later, Drogba had his goal.
Sub Gervinho found space down the left and picked out Yaya Toure, whose cross found the forward's run into the area, Drogba making no mistake and flicking it low into the corner.
The game threatened to descend into farce when sub Kader Keita reacted after a collision with Kaka, the Brazilian unjustly given a second yellow card, which will see him miss their final game with Portugal in the week.
There was no further action though, and so despite Drogba's first goal of the 2010 World Cup, Ivory Coast will now be outsiders to progress into the last 16 should Portugal beat North Korea on Monday.
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