Brazil lead Ivory Coast 1-0 at halftime

Brazil lead the Ivory Coast 1-0 at half-time in their World Cup Group G clash on Sunday thanks to a wonderful finish by Sevilla’s Luis Fabiano.

Chelsea star Didier Drogba started for the Ivory Coast, despite the broken right arm he suffered in a pre-World Cup friendly, but it was Dunga’s side who finished the first 45 minutes in the lead after some Brazilian magic.

With the Soccer City stadium pitch looking tired for only its fourth game of the World Cup, the match got off to a slow start with neither team stamping their authority on the game.

The Brazilians opened the scoring with typical flair when Kaka slotted a pass between two Ivory Coast defenders for Luis Fabiano who blasted his shot high into the net past Elephants’ goalkeeper Boubacar Barry on 25 minutes.

Ivory Coast left-back Siaka Tiene then earned a yellow card for a foul on Brazil’s Elano on 31 minutes to compound his side’s problems.

The Elephants finished the half on the attack with Portsmouth forward Aruna Dindane testing Brazil goalkeeper Julio Cesar.