Entertaining Ivory Coast beat Serbia & Montenegro 3-2 for a first ever World Cup victory.

Early goals from giant striker Nikola Zigic and Sasa Ilic, both the result of poor defending, put Serbia and Montenegro firmly in control in what could be their last match before the country splits into two nations.

However, Aruna Dindane's penalty, following a handball bordering on the ridiculous by Milan Dudic, allowed the African side back into the match, while Serbia and Montenegro were then reduced to 10 men by the sending off of substitute Albert Nadj for two bookable offences.

Referee Marco Rodriguez continued to hog the limelight after the break - reducing Ivory Coast to 10 in injury-time - but could not disguise the Elephants deserving an equaliser midway through the half with a Dindane header.

Both sides continued to miss a hatful of chances in a wide open climax and a draw looked the likely outcome.

But with five minutes to go, Dudic again handled in the area and substitute Bonaventure Kalou stepped up to coolly slot home and send the orange-clad fans into raptures.