Greece pulls off thrilling win over Ivory Coast to advance
Agony is Ivory Coast, tied with the Greeks in stoppage time, needing only to prevent the offensively challenged team that had scratched out one goal all tournament from scoring for a few more minutes.
Ecstasy is Greece, which got that goal on a penalty kick for a 2-1 victory.
Going home are the Ivorians, which began the concluding day of Group C requiring only a draw to prolong its World Cup.
Going forward are the Greeks, who have landed onto a welcome line in the sweet 16 bracket. They are paired with overachieving Costa Rica.
The undisputed group champion is Colombia, which swept past all three opponents, the latest being Japan in a 4-1 win. Colombia, too, finds itself with a desirable foe should Uruguay be shorn of its ace striker, Luis Suarez, who faces suspension.
Greece’s ship was listing soon after the start. Two early substitutions were required, one for Orestis Karnezis, who injured his back.
But a giveaway by the Ivorians on their side of the field made it easy for Greece’s Andreas Samaris, who struck with only keeper Boubacar Barry left to outfox late in the first half.
Ivory Coast waited . . . and waited . . . and waited until the 74th minute to pull even. A clever string of passes ended with Wilfried Bony -- continuing a theme of substitutes scoring -- steering in a shot.
Ivory Coast seemed to be in the clear until Greece’s Georgios Samaras induced a penalty on contact that often goes unpunished, especially so deep into a match. Samaras banged in the kick even though Barry guessed correctly and dove to the ball side.
A penalty kick got Colombia started, with Juan Cuadrado scoring in the 17th minute. Japan’s goal by Shinji Okazaki coincided with the clock’s last tick of the first half, but the winners unleashed the dogs in the second half. Jackson Martinez notched two goals, and James Rodriguez, who assisted marvelously on one, closed out the scoring.
The cushion was so comfortable that Colombia was able to bring in keeper Faryd Mondragon -- at 43, the tourney’s oldest player -- to mop up.
