With Villarreal center forward Nicolas Pepe as the absolute star, Ivory Coast defeated Curacao 2-0 in Philadelphia and with 6 points in Group 5 took 2nd place (Germany first) and the “ticket” to the World Cup knockout stages. 

In the round of 32, Emers’ team will clearly have a much more difficult task, as they will be called upon to face the top team in Group 9, that is, either France or Norway.

Curaçao leaves the competition with one point from three matches, in its maiden appearance at the world’s premier football event.

Akti took the lead very quickly. After Diomante’s assist, Pepe opened the scoring in the 7th minute and at the same time paved the way for the “32” of the World Cup. Although the match… opened quickly for both teams, the 1-0 score did not change until the end of half-time.

Playing very smartly in the second half and giving space to the Curacao players, the “Elephants” found a way to “lock” the match and qualification to the next phase of the competition in the 64th minute. Nicolas Pepe “struck” for the second time, after a pass from Sangare and with an ideal finish “wrote” the 2-0, essentially giving a procedural character to the rest of the match. 

Referee: Glen Nyberg (Sweden)
Yellow cards: Z. Bakuna, Castaneer – Pepe

CURACAO (Dick Advocaat): Room, Brenet, Gaari (77′ Castaneer), Obispo, Floranus, Fonville (77′ Noslin), Chong, Comenencia (61′ Antonise), L. Bacuna, Z. Bacuna, Locandia
    
IVORY COAST (Faye Emers): Fofana, Doue, Kosunou, Ousmane Diomande, Operi, Sangare, Kessie (77′ Seri), Diallo (46′ Oulai), Yann Diomande (67′ Toure), Pepe (67′ Ouahie), Boni