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Ivory Coast and Portugal opened their World Cup campaigns with a goalless draw on Tuesday as Didier Drogba returned to action just ten days after surgery on his broken arm.
The African superstar, wearing a protective cast, was introduced as a second half substitute but he was unable to tip the balance in his countrymen’s favour in the Group G clash.
Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo had the best chance to break the stalemate on a crisp winter’s afternoon in the first half when the Real Madrid winger’s 25m shot rattled Boubacar Barry’s left post in the 10th minute.
Barry’s opposite number Eduardo was let off the hook when shortly after Siaka Tiene’s curling long range freekick edged wide.
Another Ivorian, Ismael Tiote, then watched as his effort went over the Portuguese crossbar.
Referee Jorge Larrionda flashed his yellow card at defender Guy Demel for a foul on Ronaldo who in turn was cautioned for his stroppy reaction.
The Ivory Coast, the last of the six teams from Africa to enter the World Cup fray in South Africa, were giving as good as they got against their rivals from Europe ranked third in the world.
The game needed a goal and Salomon Kalou had Eduardo working with his shot on target in the 50th minute as Portugal manager Carlos Queiroz made his first change, replacing Danny with Atletico Madrid forward Simao.
Gone now was the caution that had marked much of the first period as this Group of Death opener really opened up and Barry had to be at full stretch to get hold of Liedson’s header after some nifty work down the left from Deco.
On 66 minutes manager Sven Goran Eriksson unleashed Drogba, who came on for his Chelsea teammate Kalou to by far the biggest cheer of the afternoon.
As the rain came down Ronaldo thought he had put the 2006 semi-finalists into the lead but Larrionda had already whistled for a foul by Liedson.
On 80 minutes Ronaldo, who failed to score in any of Portugal’s World Cup qualifiers, sent a 35m freekick edging over Barry’s crossbar.
A Drogba-inspired Ivory Coast had Portugal on the hop in time added on but he miscued his shot and man-of-the-match Ronaldo and co. escaped with a point.
The result left Ghana as the only one of the six African teams playing in this first ever World Cup in Africa to have won their opening first round match.
Portugal coach Carlos Queiroz hinted on that Ivory Coast star Didier Drogba had benefited from special treatment which allowed him to play with a protective cast on his broken arm.
The Chelsea attacker’s arrival on the pitch wearing a protective cast almost tipped the game in Ivory Coast’s favour as he went close to snatching an injury time winner at the Nelson Mandela Bay stadium.
Drogba was cleared to play at a meeting on Monday evening involving Lorrianda and officials from FIFA, Ivory Coast and Portugal.
Queiroz though expressed concern, commenting after the match: “It’s not up to us to decide if he (Drogba) plays or not, it was up to FIFA.
“In Monday’s meeting FIFA said it was up to the referee whose decision they said would be final.
“That seemed a bit odd to us. You have players who can’t wear a string bracelet or plaster, yet here is a player who has fractured his arm and who could put our players at risk with his (protective) cast.
“Drogba is an African superstar and we want to know if all the rules will be the same for everyone – he was allowed to play with a cast, perhaps the rules will be changed.”
Drogba himself, speaking about his injury, said: “If I had had even one percent doubt (about my ability to play) I wouldn’t have asked to be on the bench.
“The decision was taken yesterday evening after a chat with the coach.”
Drogba’s national manager Sven Goran Eriksson expanded on how Drogba had come to be listed on the team sheet.
“We decided after Monday training. After dinner I chatted to Didier, he said he’d prefer to begin on the bench but said ‘if you need me boss I’m ready’.
“I hoped we wouldn’t have to use him today but we wanted to win the game so we did what we did.
“With an injury like he has only he and the doctors can decide – I put no pressure on him at all.”
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