Colombia beat Ivory Coast 2-1 to top Group C

After a goalless first half, Rodriguez's header from a corner in the 64th minute beat Ivorian keeper Boubacar Barry.

Quintero scored the second six minutes later with a shot which found the bottom left corner of the net after Serey Die lost the ball in midfield, granting the Colombians a fast break.

Gervinho brought the game back to life with a solo run on the left of the Colombian box three minutes later, beating three defenders and slotting in past keeper David Ospina. The Ivorians pushed hard but could not find a late equalizer.

Teofilo Guiterrez had squandered Colombia's best chance in the first half, failing to find the net from the centre of the box after a perfect cross from Rodriguez in the 28th minute.

Ismael Tiote fired a shot high over the Colombia crossbar in the 25th minute after a cross from Yaya Toure, who also created a chance in the 56th minute, chipping the ball into the box only for Wilfried Bony to miss the pass altogether.

Such misses in front of goal summed up a game in which both teams were giving everything but lacked composure in the final third. Good positions were also squandered due to the poor quality of the final pass or cross.

Didier Drogba, who came on for Bony in the 60th minute, failed to inspire his team-mates as he did against Japan last week, when his introduction prompted the Elephants to stage a comeback after they fell behind to a first-half goal.

The Ivory Coast fell behind just four minutes after his introduction with Drogba, together with Souleymane Bamba, liable for allowing Rodriguez the space to meet Juan Cuadrado's corner.

Ospina was alert to palm away a cross from Serge Aurier which almost sneaked in at the near post in the 68th minute as the Ivorians sought to make it 1-1. Their hopes for an equalizer were dashed by Quintero's goal just one minute later.

Gervinho's solo effort was a highlight of the game but despite further pressure, Colombia held out to claim the win.

The Ivory Coast will play Greece next week without midfielder Didier Zokora, who received his second yellow card in two games for a nasty foul, which makes matters worse for French coach Sabri Lamouchi.