Group C Ivory Coast 3 Serbia & Montenegro 2: Ivory Coast fought back from two goals down to secure their first World Cup win in an entertaining and fiercely fought contest.

Substitute Bonaventure Kalou struck the winner from the penalty spot after Serbia defender Milan Dudic handled the ball in the area for the second time, having given away a blatant first-half penalty that let Ivory Coast back into the match.

Serbia took the lead in the 10th minute when striker Nikola Zigic controlled a long ball from Dejan Stankovic, rounded the goalkeeper and slotted home. And they doubled their advantage in the 19th minute when Sasa Ilic pounced on a fumbled clearance by Ivory Coast stand-in captain Cyrille Domoraud from a Predag Djordjevic cross.

But Ivory Coast got back in the game when Arune Dindane tucked away a twice-taken penalty in the 36th minute following the handball by Dudic. Dindane headed in a Kader Keita cross in the 67th minute and, after Dudic again handled in the box, Kalou stepped up to seal a historic victory for Ivory Coast.

IVORY COAST: Barry, Boka, Kouassi, Domoraud, Eboue, Akale (Bakari Kone 60), Zokora, Keita (Kalou 72), Gneri Yaya Toure, Arouna Kone, Dindane. Subs Not Used: Demel, Fae, Gnanhouan, Meite, Romaric, Tizie, Kolo Toure, Yapi Yapo, Zoro. Sent Off: Domoraud (90). Booked: Keita, Domoraud, Dindane. Goals: Dindane 37 pen, 67, Kalou 86 pen.

SERBIA & MONTENEGRO: Jevric, Gavrancic, Nenad Djordjevic, Dudic, Krstajic (Nadj 16), Ergic, Duljaj, Stankovic, Predrag Djordjevic, Ilic, Zigic (Milosevic 66). Subs Not Used: Basta, Dragutinovic, Kovacevic, Ljuboja, Stojkovic, Vidic, Vukic, Petkovic. Sent Off: Nadj (45). Booked: Nadj, Dudic, Duljaj, Gavrancic. Goals: Zigic 10, Ilic 20.

Att: 66,000.

Referee: M Rodriguez (Mexico).