Cote d'Ivoire became the first side to seal their place in the quarterfinals of the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations after a 3-1 victory over Ghana in Cabinda on Friday night, this despite being reduced to 10 men early in the second half.
The result means The Elephants head Group B with four points and leaves Ghana needing to beat Burkina Faso in the final pool match on January 19 to make the next round. A draw for the Burkinabe and they will be the surprise second side from the pool advancing into the quarterfinals.
After the disappointment of their opening 0-0 draw with Burkina Faso, it is fair to say there was considerable pressure on World Cup finalists Cote d'Ivoire to produce an improved performance and that they did.
Ghana had an early sighter when Dede Ayew fired in a low free-kick that flashed across the Ivorian goal and wide. Didier Drogba had a similar effort at the other end, but he sent his shot high and wide, a disappointing result for the Chelsea man.
Richard Kingson denied Didier Zokora with a fine save from his powerful shot as The Elephants began to take control, and just a few minutes later they were ahead.
Gervinho started a counter-attack move, and ended up finishing it too as he received a square-ball from Salomon Kalou and had the simplest of tap-ins to give the Ivorians a deserved 21-minute lead.
The Black Stars almost hit back as Kwadwo Asamoah forced a stunning save out of Boubacar Barry in the Ivorian goal, but they went into the break a goal down.
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Milovan Rajevac's side introduced two of their big guns at the break, Michael Essien and Asamoah Gyan, as they tried to work a way back into the game.
There was drama on 57 minutes when Ivorian Emmanuel Eboue received a straight red card from South African referee Jerome Damon for a horrendous challenge on Ghana forward Opoku Agyemang. It was the first red card of this year's Nations Cup, but a totally justified one.
Seconds later Matthew Amoah struck the outside of the post with a stunning volley as Ghana inched closer to an equaliser, making their numerical advantage in midfield pay dividends.
Barry then had to be smart to deny Asamoah's free-kick, but against the run of play it was The Elephants who doubled their advantage on 66 minutes.
Left-winger Siake Tiene hit a well-struck free-kick that beat Kingson at his near-post, a big disappointment for the keeper, but joy for the Ivorians, who had been under enormous pressure since the sending off.
Essien put his free-kick over the bar, after which he was clattered by his Chelsea teammate Drogba and looked in enormous pain, a worrying sight for fans of the Black Stars.
And Drogba added even further suffering with a third goal in injury-time as Kader Keita produced some excellent play on the left before crossing for the striker to head home.
Ghana did have the final say though as Souleymane Bamba fouled Asamoah Gyan in the penalty-area and the latter dusted himself off to convert the spot-kick.
Too little, too late for the Black Stars however.
