Brazil progress after beating Ivory Coast

Brazil 3
Luis Fabiano 25, 50; Elano 62
Ivory Coast 1
Drogba 79

Brazil qualified for the last 16 of the World Cup with a 3-1 win against Ivory Coast in their Group G clash at Soccer City last night, but had midfielder Kaka controversially sent off.

Kaka was dismissed for a second yellow card late on for pushing Abdelkader Keita, but it appeared the Ivorian had exaggerated the impact of the shove by falling to the ground clutching his head.

Sevilla forward Luis Fabiano showed Brazilian flair in both his goals which takes the Dunga-coached South American giants into the knockout phase with their final group game with Portugal still to come.

Midfielder Elano compounded Ivory Coast's misery with a well-taken shot on 62 minutes after some great work on the left wing from Kaka before Didier Drogba scored a late consolation goal on 79 minutes.

But Elano was later stretchered off the field with what appeared to be a nasty shin injury.

Drogba started for the Ivory Coast despite his broken arm, but the Chelsea striker was largely overshadowed as Dunga's side lived up to their mantra Joga Bonito - play beautifully - with some Brazilian magic.

The Brazilians opened the scoring when Kaka slotted a pass between two defenders for Luis Fabiano to blast his shot high into the net past Elephants' goalkeeper Boubacar Barry on 25 minutes.

The Elephants finished the half on the attack with Portsmouth forward Aruna Dindane testing Brazil goalkeeper Julio Cesar, but it stayed 1-0 at the break.

Luis Fabiano again showed his class as his three touches - with a suspicion of handball - saw him beat three defenders before rifling his shot past Barry who could only get a glove to the ball on 50 minutes.

Elano, who also scored in Brazil's 2-1 win over North Korea in their opening game, then got in on the act when Kaka squared the ball from the left wing for the Galatasaray midfielder to score after an hour.

But within minutes he had to leave the field after a lunging studs-up challenge from an Ivorian.

The match ended in a bad-tempered fashion, with Keita picking up a yellow card for a dangerous tackle which clipped the ankle of Michel Bastos on 75 minutes.

Drogba got on the scoresheet when he beat Brazil's offside trap for an unmarked header which rolled past goalkeeper Julio Cesar with 11 minutes left.

Kaka picked up a yellow card for a push on Yaya Toure on 85 minutes and it turned into a red three minutes later when Keita ran into the Brazilian who was looking the other way, and then crumpled to the floor, clutching his face.

The referee reached for the cards and a disbelieving Kaka was dismissed.

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"We conceded three easy goals, but their first one was very good," said Ivory Coast coach Sven-Goran Eriksson.

"We were unlucky with the second goal. There was a handball but the referee didn't see it. That should not have been allowed.

"I heard Brazil complain a lot, but I don't think they should, it is extra difficult when Fabiano is allowed to use his hands. It was not just once, it was twice."

But Eriksson feels Brazil have the mark of potential world champions.

"I think the Brazil team can go all the way, they have quality especially in defence," he said. "You need to be almost perfect to beat Brazil. In every way they are good, they are very good."

Brazil: Cesar, Maicon, Lucio, Juan, Bastos, Elano (Alves 67), Gilberto, Melo, Kaka, Luis Fabiano, Robinho (Ramires 90).

Ivory Coast: Barry, Demel, K. Toure, Zokora, Tiene, Eboue (Romaric 72), Y. Toure, Tiote, Dindane (Gervinho 54), Drogba, Kalou (Keita 68).

Referee: Lannoy (France).

Yellow cards: Kaka; Tiene, Keita, Tiote.

Red card: Kaka (B) 88.

Attendance: 84,455.