Scorpions stingless against Elephants

Scorpions of The Gambia

Ivory Coast defeated visiting Gambia 3-0 on Saturday in Abidjan in the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying to consolidate their lead in Group C with seven points.

The Scorpions of the Gambia, who are still looking for their first victory of the qualifying campaign, kept their hosts goalless throughout the first 45 minutes at the Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny in Abidjan.

Dutch Eredivisie current top scorer Wilfried Bony opened the scoring for the continent’s number one team before one each from Manchester City’s Yaya Toure and former Chelsea winger Salomon Kalou sealed the Elephants’ exhilarating victory that to some extent reconciled the team with local fans after their debacle at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.

Team captain Didier Drogba was missing in action after he was dropped by coach Sabri Lamouchi due to an unconvincing form, and his absence was greatly felt during the first half when the home side struggled against the lowly Scorpions, who succeeded in impeaching the star-studded outfit to play a settled and constructive game.

Scorpions coach Luciano Mancini, who dropped one of his lethal strikers in Ibou Sawaneh, captain Mustapha ‘Toubabo’ Jarju and Ousman Jallow, had to play Momodou ‘Zico’ Ceesay as the only recognisable striker upfront.

Arsenal’s Gervinho could be named man of the match for his tireless efforts in driving the attacking line and distributing countless balls to his mates notably Kalou, Bony and Didier Ya Konan. However, the Gambians kept recovering the ball each time they lost it and were launching onslaughts as well.

By the second half, the Ivorians began to find their footing and their first major action in front of the visitors’ goal broke the deadlock. Gervinho cut in to the Gambia box from the right after connecting a long cross from Yaya Toure, and attempted to meander through two defenders but was held by a hand and floored, resulting in a penalty, which Wilfried Bony transformed with ease by the 50th minute.

The Elephants poured forth henceforth as the resistance of the Scorpions kept waning. Gambia goalkeeper Christopher Allen singlehandedly saved his side from further havoc with breathtaking saves, before Yaya Toure compounded their situation when he doubled for the hosts by the hour mark through a header from the left flank on the edge of the box.

The pressure from the Ivorian team continued and by the last quarter of the encounter they made it to 3-0, with Gervinho working it out once more after dribbling his way through four defenders in the Gambia box and side-crossing to Salomon Kalou, who finished the sublime effort inside the back net.

It was too much for the Scorpions, who never managed to answer the Ivorians’ lethal attacks.

The win was Ivory Coast's second from three matches played in qualifying for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, and sees them top the group by four points from Tanzania, who are in action against third-placed Morocco on Sunday.

Gambia meanwhile, under the leadership of regional-turned Scorpions coach, are bottom of the standings with just one point from three outings.