Pepe Double Sends Ivory Coast Into Historic Round of 32 With 2-0 Win Over Curacao

Ivory Coast reached the World Cup knockout stage for the first time in their history with a 2-0 win over Curacao in Philadelphia on Thursday night. 

Nicolas Pepe scored both goals, one in each half, to secure second place in Group E and set up a round of 32 tie against either France or Norway in Arlington, Texas on June 30. 

Curacao, the smallest nation by population ever to play at a men's World Cup, are eliminated after finishing bottom of the group with one point.

Ivory Coast needed just a point going into the game but settled their nerves quickly. On seven minutes, Yan Diomande capitalised on a poor defensive clearance, darted to the byline and pulled the ball back for Pepe to finish from six yards. The former Arsenal forward then wrapped things up in the 64th minute, collecting a pass from Ibrahim Sangare and curling a precise left-footed effort into the far corner.

Curacao went down fighting. Tahith Chong fired an early shot straight at goalkeeper Yahia Fofana, Leandro Bacuna darted into the box before the break but sent his effort wide, and Tyrese Noslin forced a late save from Fofana with a speculative long-range strike. Their best chance came just before half time when Juninho Bacuna broke between two defenders and into the box but fired wide at the near post.

Ivory Coast also had chances to add to their tally. Amad Diallo could not find the corner with a curling effort, Franck Kessie saw a deflected long-range strike fly just wide, and Elye Wahi had a tight-angled shot that came to nothing late on. There were also calls for an Ivorian penalty in the closing stages but they were waved away.

It is a historic moment for Ivory Coast, who had gone out at the group stage in each of their three previous World Cup appearances. They now have six points and two wins in a single World Cup for the first time.

Curacao leave the tournament with their heads held high. They earned their first ever World Cup point with a goalless draw against Ecuador and pushed much bigger nations close throughout the competition. Their goalkeeper Eloy Room had set a record for the most saves in a World Cup match with 15 in that draw against Ecuador.