World Cup 2010: Brazil v Ivory Coast

When the draw for the World Cup finals was announced in December last year, tonight's clash between Group G heavyweights Brazil and Ivory Coast made fans the world over drool. Kaká, Drogba, Robinho, Zokora (okay, maybe not Zokora) ... some of the world's finest players are on display in this match. Even Sven-Goran Eriksson has managed to park his bum on the Ivory Coast bench for this one, having been installed as their manager for the tournament Photograph: Tom Jenkins Photograph: guardian.co.uk The moon is illuminated above Soccer City - the venue for tonight's match Photograph: Tom Jenkins Photograph: guardian.co.uk Inside the ground, fans begin to find their seats and blow a few practice notes on their vuvuzelas Photograph: Tom Jenkins Photograph: guardian.co.uk Fashion seems to be a top prioity among the fans ... this guy has plumped for a Christ the Redeemer statue atop a sequined helmet. Textbook headgear Photograph: Tom Jenkins Photograph: guardian.co.uk Meanwhile this chap has got the Fonz's aesthetic to a tee Photograph: Tom Jenkins Photograph: guardian.co.uk A solid offering from the Ivory Coast here. Literally. If this guy's not a human statue, he should be Photograph: Tom Jenkins Photograph: guardian.co.uk Drogba or Fabiano? You do the maths Photograph: Tom Jenkins Photograph: guardian.co.uk Excellent use of a six-man T-shirt Photograph: Tom Jenkins Photograph: guardian.co.uk Here he is ... the former England manager and touchline gnome, Sven, doing what he does best Photograph: Tom Jenkins Photograph: guardian.co.uk Drogba fractured his elbow just 16 days ago – an injury which isn't yet fully healed – but he's in the Ivory Coast line-up tonight Photograph: Tom Jenkins Photograph: guardian.co.uk The match gets underway and Brazil look the sprightlier at first. Here, Melo and Bastos catapult through the air above Dindane Photograph: Tom Jenkins Photograph: guardian.co.uk After a disappointing first season at Real Madrid, Kaká seems keen to display his talent with a bounding run Photograph: Tom Jenkins Photograph: guardian.co.uk Drogba finds himself in defence, clearing from a free-kick Photograph: Tom Jenkins Photograph: guardian.co.uk Twenty-five minutes in and Luís Fabiano lashes home a stunning first goal for Brazil ... the angle isn't quite as acute as Maicon's against North Korea, but the finish is every bit as photogenic Photograph: Tom Jenkins Photograph: guardian.co.uk Robinho takes the subsequent celebration to new heights Photograph: Tom Jenkins Photograph: guardian.co.uk Fabiano bags a second goal to double Brazil's lead. Thierry Henry would be proud of this one - not for the finish itself, but for the double handball which preceded it. As the players head back to the centre-circle for the restart, the referee indicts to Fabiano that he suspects unfair play. What a bizarre admission from the official! Photograph: Tom Jenkins Photograph: guardian.co.uk Julio Cesar doesn't seem to care Photograph: Tom Jenkins Photograph: guardian.co.uk Kaka chests the ball back to Elano ... Brazil are in complete control Photograph: Tom Jenkins Photograph: guardian.co.uk Kolo Toure tries to organise the Ivorian defence Photograph: Tom Jenkins Photograph: guardian.co.uk Now that's more like it ... A beautifully crafted move on the left flank involving Kaka cluminates in a tap-in for Elano. Nothing untoward in that one. 3-0 Photograph: Tom Jenkins Photograph: guardian.co.uk Elano ambitiously attempts three high-fives at once Photograph: Tom Jenkins Photograph: guardian.co.uk ... while Cesar gives Lucio a crushing hug Photograph: Tom Jenkins Photograph: guardian.co.uk Drogba appeals to the crowd to get behind his team ... Photograph: Tom Jenkins Photograph: guardian.co.uk ... and soon scores a glancing header to reduce the deficit Photograph: Tom Jenkins Photograph: guardian.co.uk Solomon Kalou struggles to retain possession as he weaves through Maicon and Gilberto Silva Photograph: Tom Jenkins Photograph: guardian.co.uk Felipe Melo commits to a lunging challenge on Kolo Toure Photograph: Tom Jenkins Photograph: guardian.co.uk Uh-oh. Things have turned nasty in the final few minutes. Kaka, of all people, is being accused of elbowing Kader Keita ... Photograph: Tom Jenkins Photograph: guardian.co.uk The Brazilian looks despondent as he predicts the fate that will befall him Photograph: Tom Jenkins Photograph: guardian.co.uk ... but the referee is making a truly horrendous decision in sending Kaka off. The replay shows that Keita has run straight into the unsuspecting Brazilian, before flinging himself to the turf in a fashion pioneered by Rivaldo. Awful, awful stuff. Kaka wanders off with a wry smile ... He knows it's absolute nonsense Photograph: Tom Jenkins Photograph: guardian.co.uk The match ends 3-1, putting Brazil through to the last 16. Kaka's suspension, if it sticks, will probably only last one game, so thankfully he'll be back for the knock-out stages. The Ivory Coast, on the other hand, may not make it that far. They'll now have to beat North Korea and hope for a favour from Brazil if they are to qualify Photograph: Tom Jenkins Photograph: guardian.co.uk