Greece Vs. Ivory Coast Results And Highlights: Late Penalty Puts Greece Into First Ever Knockout Round Appearance [VIDEO]

A late Giorgios Samaras penalty put Greece into the knockout rounds at the expense of the Ivory Coast. Greece will make their first knockout round appearance and face Costa Rica in the round of 16. The penalty was conceded in the 91st minute after a foul by Giovanni Sio on Samaras who coolly finished the spot kick and allowed his side to advance along with Colombia out of Group C.

The Ivorians, with their destiny in their own hands, just needed a win for automatic qualification. Didier Drogba was a surprise selection in Sabri Lamouchi's starting 11, although the team has certainly looked best with their captain and leader on the field.

Both teams started the match a bit cagey, not looking to concede the first goal and the Greeks were forced into making an early substitution when Panagiotis Kone pulled up in the 11th minute with a hamstring injury and was replaced by Andreas Samaris. Greece experienced more problems when, in the 23th minute, their goalkeeper Orestis Karnezis was subbed off after sustaining a back injury.

In the 24th minute, the Ivorians got their first sniff of goal when Yaya Toure put Drogba in on goal, but the strikers pace let him down and he couldn't reach the ball before the chance was gone. A great chance for the Greeks came on 33 minutes when their counter attack ended with a wonderful strike by José Cholebas who was denied by only the bar. A great opportunity for the first Greek goal of the tournament, but it wasn't to be.

The Greeks, though, were not to be denied twice when, on 42 minutes, Samaris put them ahead after a terrible defensive mistake by Cheick Tioté which let the substitute in on goal who made no mistake, putting his side up 1-0 and taking his team into the break up a goal.

The Greeks started the second half well and should have been up two-nil after 53 minutes, but Lazaros Christodoulopoulos's toe poke missed the target. Ivorian keeper Boubacar Barry was well positioned in the 58th minute when a stinging shot by Dimitris Salpingidis was heading for the back of the net but was instead turned away for a corner. The Greeks continued to counter well and were denied by the crossbar a second time when Giorgos Karagounis hit an absolutely fantastic strike, beating Barry but not the bar.

The late Ivorian pressure would pay off in the 74th minute through a Wilfred Bony goal. The substitute received a wonderful ball from Gervinho and made no mistake from 8 yards out, beating substitute goalkeeper Glikos coolly and seemingly putting his side through to the next round. But a huge mistake by Ivorian substitute Giovanni Sio gave the Greeks a penalty in the 92nd minute, and a chance for Samaras to put his team into the knockout rounds, which he did with a cool head, placing the penalty well into the back of the net and sending his team to the round of 16 for the first time. Greece will play Costa Rica on Sunday.