ICoast leads NKorea 2-0 at halftime of World Cup Group G match

ICoast leads NKorea 2-0 at halftime

NELSPRUIT, South Africa — Yaya Toure and Koffi Romaric each scored a goal and Ivory Coast leads North Korea 2-0 at halftime of the team’s must-win World Cup group match.

Toure took a cross from Arthur Boka and curled the ball round goalkeeper Ri Myong Guk to grab the lead in the 14th minute, and Romaric headed the ball over the line from a rebound after Drogba’s 20th-minute drive hit the underside of the cross bar.

Kader Keita almost extended the Elephants’ lead with a volley at the back post in the 31st minute and Gervinho hit the outside of the post seven minutes later.

Ivory Coast started the day needing to win and make up a nine-goal difference with Portugal to have a chance of advancing to the round of 16.