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

The moon is illuminated above Soccer City - the venue for tonight's match
Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Inside the ground, fans begin to find their seats and blow a few practice notes on their vuvuzelas
Photograph: Tom Jenkins

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

Meanwhile this chap has got the Fonz's aesthetic to a tee
Photograph: Tom Jenkins

A solid offering from the Ivory Coast here. Literally. If this guy's not a human statue, he should be
Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Drogba or Fabiano? You do the maths
Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Excellent use of a six-man T-shirt
Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Here he is ... the former England manager and touchline gnome, Sven, doing what he does best
Photograph: Tom Jenkins

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

The match gets underway and Brazil look the sprightlier at first. Here, Melo and Bastos catapult through the air above Dindane
Photograph: Tom Jenkins

After a disappointing first season at Real Madrid, Kaká seems keen to display his talent with a bounding run
Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Drogba finds himself in defence, clearing from a free-kick
Photograph: Tom Jenkins

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

Robinho takes the subsequent celebration to new heights
Photograph: Tom Jenkins

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

Julio Cesar doesn't seem to care
Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Kaka chests the ball back to Elano ... Brazil are in complete control
Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Kolo Toure tries to organise the Ivorian defence
Photograph: Tom Jenkins

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

Elano ambitiously attempts three high-fives at once
Photograph: Tom Jenkins

... while Cesar gives Lucio a crushing hug
Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Drogba appeals to the crowd to get behind his team ...
Photograph: Tom Jenkins

... and soon scores a glancing header to reduce the deficit
Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Solomon Kalou struggles to retain possession as he weaves through Maicon and Gilberto Silva
Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Felipe Melo commits to a lunging challenge on Kolo Toure
Photograph: Tom Jenkins

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

The Brazilian looks despondent as he predicts the fate that will befall him
Photograph: Tom Jenkins

... 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

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