Portugal, Ivory Coast share points

PORT ELIZABETH - It was billed as the match that would light up the football World Cup but Ivory Coast and Portugal played out a tense goalless draw at the Port Elizabeth Stadium Tuesday.

The Group G stalemate was almost broken by Cristiano Ronaldo who thumped a post in the first half and then by Didier Drogba who crossed instead of shooting with a late chance.

But in a result that favours Brazil, who play North Korea later in the Ellis Park stadium, neither side was able to break the deadlock.

Coah Sven Goran Eriksson chose not to start with his captain Drogba who broke his arm on just before the World Cup. The Chelsea man started on the bench and Gervinho joined Aruna Dindane and Salomon Kalou in a three-pronged attack.

For Carloz Quieroz’s Portugal, Real Madrid striker Ronaldo was wearing the captain’s armband and looking to end 15 months without an international goal.

Ivory Coast were playing Sevilla midfielder Didier Zokora in the centre of their defence and after just seven minutes he was booked for a foul on Ronaldo.

Ronaldo wasted his first free-kick with the controversial World Cup ball, sending his shot into the wall, but in the 11 minute he rattled the post with a thunderous shot from open play with Ivory Coast keeper Boubacar Barry well beaten.

Portugal were dominating the opening stages but Ivory Coast had their first chance when Siaka Tiene sent a free-kick just wide of Eduardo’s goal and Ismael Tiote then tested the Portuguese keeper.

Tempers flared when Guy Demel chopped down Ronaldo in the 20th minute and when the Real Madrid striker reacted angrily, he joined Demel in referee’s book.

The physical nature of the first half continued and Emmanuel Eboue needed lengthy treatment after being caught by Pedro Mendes as Ivory Coast dominated the later stages of the first half.

Drogba remained on the bench as the second half kicked off but was soon warming up. His Chelsea team-mate Kalou fired in a powerful shot that went straight to Eduardo.

In the 66th minute, it was Kalou who made way for his Chelsea team-mate Drogba. Wearing his FIFA approved cast, the Ivory Coast striker was back on the pitch just 11 days after breaking his arm.

Portugal had also made a change with Queiroz bringing to an end Deco’s 75th game for his country and bringing on Tiago.

The introduction of Drogba had lifted the Ivory Coast fans but not the team with Portugal now applying most of the pressure forcing two corners.

Ivory Coast appeared to be tiring badly and Barcleona midfielder Yaya Toure needed treatment for cramp after making a clearance. Tiene then fouled Ronaldo giving him another free-kick opportunity which he sent just over the bar.

But at the death Ivory Coast found another gear and with the clock running down it was Eriksson’s side who came closest.

Drogba was sent clear by fellow substitute Abdelkader Keita but under pressure the big striker seemed to go for the cross instead of the shot fizzing the ball across the face of the six-yard box.