Dzeko brace as Bosnia beat Ivory Coast in World Cup warmup (https://en-maktoob.news.yahoo.com/dzeko-brace-bosnia-beat-ivory-coast-world-cup-042920739--sow.html)


(Reuters) - Striker Edin Dzeko scored a double to lead Bosnia to a 2-1 win over Ivory Coast in an international friendly in Missouri on Friday. (https://en-maktoob.news.yahoo.com/dzeko-brace-bosnia-beat-ivory-coast-world-cup-042920739--sow.html)

Dzeko scored once each half to give Bosnia a 2-0 lead before Didier Drogba scored a late consolation goal for Ivory Coast, Africa's highest ranked national team. (https://en-maktoob.news.yahoo.com/dzeko-brace-bosnia-beat-ivory-coast-world-cup-042920739--sow.html)

With both teams having qualified for next month's World Cup, Friday's match gave both sides a chance to limber up for the tournament with little pressure. (https://en-maktoob.news.yahoo.com/dzeko-brace-bosnia-beat-ivory-coast-world-cup-042920739--sow.html)

Bosnia, who are heading to the World Cup for the first time, dominated the match but squandered a series of opportunities to score. (https://en-maktoob.news.yahoo.com/dzeko-brace-bosnia-beat-ivory-coast-world-cup-042920739--sow.html)

Dzeko, Bosnia's all-time leading international scorer, gave the eastern Europeans the lead after just 17 minutes when he rifled a shot into the back of the net from just inside the box. (https://en-maktoob.news.yahoo.com/dzeko-brace-bosnia-beat-ivory-coast-world-cup-042920739--sow.html)

Ivory Coast's goalkeeper Sylvain Gbohouo had saved a shot from Edin Visca but his block ricocheted straight to the feet of Dzeko, who made no mistake with his shot. (https://en-maktoob.news.yahoo.com/dzeko-brace-bosnia-beat-ivory-coast-world-cup-042920739--sow.html)

Dzeko scored again in the 53rd minute, controlling Miralem Pjanic's cross with his first touch and volleying the ball into the net on his second. (https://en-maktoob.news.yahoo.com/dzeko-brace-bosnia-beat-ivory-coast-world-cup-042920739--sow.html)

Ivory Coast created some good opportunities and were finally with a goal in the last minute when Drogba, playing in his 100th international, was brought down by Anel Hadzic. (https://en-maktoob.news.yahoo.com/dzeko-brace-bosnia-beat-ivory-coast-world-cup-042920739--sow.html)

Already his country's most prolific scorer, Drogba chalked up his 64th international goal when he scored from a free kick. (https://en-maktoob.news.yahoo.com/dzeko-brace-bosnia-beat-ivory-coast-world-cup-042920739--sow.html)

Bosnia play Mexico in a friendly in Chicago on Tuesday before flying to Brazil to finish off their preparations for the World Cup, where they are drawn in Group F with Argentina, Iran and Nigeria. (https://en-maktoob.news.yahoo.com/dzeko-brace-bosnia-beat-ivory-coast-world-cup-042920739--sow.html)

Ivory Coast's next warm-up match is against El Salvador in suburban Dallas next Wednesday. The Africans are in the Group C at the World Cup, along with Colombia, Greece and Japan. (https://en-maktoob.news.yahoo.com/dzeko-brace-bosnia-beat-ivory-coast-world-cup-042920739--sow.html)

(Reporting by Julian Linden in New York) (https://en-maktoob.news.yahoo.com/dzeko-brace-bosnia-beat-ivory-coast-world-cup-042920739--sow.html)

(https://en-maktoob.news.yahoo.com/dzeko-brace-bosnia-beat-ivory-coast-world-cup-042920739--sow.html)