Wilfried Bony’s second-half equaliser looked set to send the Africans into the knockout phase but the striker’s spot-kick in the dying seconds booked a clash with Costa Rica

Greece will face Costa Rica in the last 16 of the World Cup after a last-minute penalty from Georgios Samaras sealed a 2-1 win over Cote d’Ivoire on Tuesday.

Needing a win to qualify in Fortaleza on Tuesday, Greece left it late, with Samaras’ 93rd-minute spot-kick sealing their progression in dramatic circumstances.

The penalty was given after the forward was tripped by Giovanni Sio and the Celtic man dusted himself down before scoring to Boubacar Barry’s left.

A draw would have been enough for Cote d’Ivoire to progress and that looked likely when Wilfried Bony came off the bench to level proceedings with 16 minutes left.

Greece had initially taken the lead through Andreas Samaris – an early replacement for the injured Panagiotis Kone – in the 42nd minute.

They had also hit the bar earlier, through Jose Holebas, and the woodwork was to deny them again in the second half as Giorgos Karagounis saw his 35-yard strike bounce away to safety.

But Greece claimed a deserved win as Samaras kept his nerve, setting up a clash with Costa Rica in the round of 16.

Yaya and Kolo Toure both started, after deciding to stay in Brazil following the death of their brother, while captain Didier Drogba made his first start of the tournament, replacing Bony.

Greece’s start was thrown into disarray by two forced substitutions inside the first 30 minutes, as Kone and goalkeeper Orestis Karnezis suffered injuries.

But they almost took the lead in the 33rd minute from a quick break, as Holebas – played in following Samaras’ well-weighted through-ball – saw his fierce strike come back off the crossbar.

The goal frame did not come to the rescue of Barry nine minutes later, though.

A stray pass from Cheick Tiote saw Samaris pounce, and he combined well with Samaras before coolly slotting past the goalkeeper.

Cote d’Ivoire continued to control possession but failed to convert it into regular chances, as their opponents looked more decisive in attack.

Greece’s threat on the counter only grew as the second half progressed and Cote d’Ivoire were rescued by the bar for a second time with 22 minutes to go, when captain Karagounis tried his luck from 35 yards.

The introduction of Bony gave the Africans another dimension and after wasting a pair of half-chances, the Swansea City forward drew his side level, producing a composed first-time finish after Gervinho’s clever cut-back.

But it was the Greeks who looked more likely to score the winner, as Dimitrios Salpingidis flashed an effort wide, before Sio’s foul gave Samaras the chance to be a hero.

And it was an opportunity he took with both hands, slotting past Barry to earn Fernando Santos’ side a place in the next round.

According to Goal

Jose Pekerman’s charges sealed maximum points in Group C and booked a last-16 clash with Uruguay in a game which saw Faryd Mondragon make World Cup history

Colombia finished Group C with three wins from three as Jackson Martinez scored twice to seal a 4-1 win over Japan on Tuesday.

Jose Pekerman’s side, so impressive in securing wins over Greece and Cote d’Ivoire earlier in the tournament, were already assured of qualification and knew a draw would be enough to secure their passage as group winners.

Japan, meanwhile, needed to win and hope the result between Cote d’Ivoire and Greece went their way in order to progress.

The South Americans hit the front shortly after the quarter-hour mark, Juan Cuadrado smashing home a penalty after Yasuyuki Konno had fouled Adrian Ramos.

Japan equalised on the stroke of half-time, Shinji Okazaki squeezing a header inside the near post to raise hopes of qualifying.

Yet Colombia then pulled clear in the second half, Jackson Martinez scoring twice following assists from half-time substitute James Rodriguez, who added a delightful late fourth.

Colombia will now take on Uruguay in the second round, while Japan exit the tournament having finished bottom of their group.

Japan made the stronger start as Colombia struggled to find their feet having made eight changes from their victory over Cote d’Ivoire.

However, it was the South Americans who went in front after 17 minutes, following their first real foray forward.

Konno needlessly brought down Ramos inside the area, and Cuadrado dispatched the spot-kick, prompting further choreographed celebrations from the Colombians.

Japan responded well, Shinji Kagawa creating space on the edge of the box before firing in a low shot which was tipped behind by David Ospina.

Keisuke Honda was the next man to go close, sending a dipping free kick narrowly wide of the right-hand post in the 33rd minute.

Colombia ought to have doubled their lead three minutes before the interval, Martinez firing wide of the target from 14 yards after being picked out by Ramos.

They were made to rue that miss soon afterwards, with Okazaki flicking home Honda’s right-wing cross with the final touch of the half.

Half-time substitute Carlos Carbonero wasted a golden chance to restore Colombia’s advantage in the 54th minute, stabbing the ball over the crossbar after a devilish ball in from fellow replacement James.

It mattered little as Martinez made it 2-1 a minute later, taking a touch and firing low beyond Eiji Kawashima after a nicely-weighted pass from James inside the area.

Eder Alvarez Balanta was perhaps lucky to escape punishment after his forearm struck the face of Okazaki in the corner, drawing blood from the nose of the Japan goalscorer.

Honda continued to pose a threat from set-pieces, bringing a save out of Ospina with a rasping free kick in the 64th minute.

Yoshito Okubo went close a minute later, meeting Atsuto Uchida’s low cross at pace only to see his close-range effort fly over the bar.

Martinez doubled his tally eight minutes from time with a cool finish, and moments later Kagawa summed up a disappointing campaign for the Japanese by firing wide with just Ospina to beat from close range.

There was a notable moment five minutes before the end, as 43-year-old goalkeeper Faryd Mondragon – retiring after the tournament – was brought on in place of Ospina to become the oldest player in World Cup history.

James, one of the players of the tournament so far, showed his class in the 90th minute to round off the scoring, turning Maya Yoshida inside out and dinking an impudent finish over Kawashima, before Mondragon made an injury-time save to deny Yoichiro Kakitani.

According to Goal