Colombia edge Ivory Coast in World Cup

By AFP

Ivory Coast Colombia's players dance as they celebrate scoring during a Group C football match between Colombia and Ivory Coast at the Mane Garrincha National Stadium in Brasilia during the 2014 FIFA World Cup on June 19, 2014. By Evaristo Sa AFP

JUN 19, 2014 LISTEN

Colombia's players dance as they celebrate scoring during a Group C football match between Colombia and Ivory Coast at the Mane Garrincha National Stadium in Brasilia during the 2014 FIFA World Cup on June 19, 2014. By Evaristo Sa (AFP)

Brasília (AFP) - Colombia took a huge step towards the last 16 of the World Cup as goals from James Rodriguez and Juan Fernando Quintero gave them a 2-1 win over Ivory Coast in their World Cup Group C match in Brasilia on Thursday.

Colombia, making their first appearance at the finals since 1998, will qualify for the second round if the match later on Thursday between Japan and Greece ends in a draw.

Ivory Coast, for whom Gervinho scored a superb individual goal, are still firmly in the hunt for a place in the last 16 for the first time in three appearances at the tournament as they opened with a 2-1 win over Japan.