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 Argentina hold off brave Ivorians
 Saviola's 38th minute shot eventually decided a high quality match. SPECIAL REPORT
• Special: World Cup 2006
HAMBURG, Germany -- Argentina began their quest for a third World Cup with a 2-1 victory over determined debutants Ivory Coast in a Group C match of the highest quality in Hamburg on Saturday. Hernan Crespo and Javier Saviola scored first-half goals which proved enough to account for the gallant Ivorians. Didier Drogba pulled a goal back with eight minutes left to raise hopes that his side could snatch a point. Crespo, who scored Argentina's last goal of the Asia finals in 2002, got them off the mark with their first of the tournament and his second in World Cups in the 24th minute. Several players went up for Juan Roman Riquelme's free kick from the left and the ball fell free in the middle where Crespo used his goal poacher's instincts to poke it home. Riquelme's superb ball through the center of the Ivorian defense seven minutes from halftime was brilliantly steered home by Javier Saviola for Argentina's second, justifying coach Jose Pekerman's choice to field the pair up front. Argentina could have gone ahead after 15 minutes but a Roberto Ayala header, which TV replays showed may have crossed the line, was not given as a goal. Ayala rose above the defense to meet Riquelme's corner from the right and Jean Jacques Tizie fumbled his bullet header which hit the post before he caught it possibly behind the line. Argentina, often in serious trouble from the fast Ivorian breaks, were indebted to Ayala, a veteran of the 1978 tournament, who was sorely missed in Japan four years ago because of injury, for some superb defending. With inexperienced right back Nicolas Burdisso struggling, Ayala came to Argentina's rescue several times, not least when he blocked Drogba's close-range shot from the left. Best chanceMidfielder Kader Keita had Ivory Coast's best chance of the first half. Drogba, on the right, headed down Kanga Akale's left wing cross and Keita dived to head fro close range only for goalkeeper Roberto Abbondanzieri to save with his legs. Argentina looked frail at corners where the Ivorian attackers towered over their smaller defenders but the South Americans profited from Ivory Coast's poor defending at set pieces to break the deadlock. Early in the second half, a free kick from the left by Riquelme skimmed the far post without anyone making contact in the box. To the beat of drums from their fans and with idol Diego Maradona watching in the stands, Argentina later seemed to prefer settling into a pattern of defending in depth as Ivory Coast sought to get back into the game. The danger was always latent from coach Henri Michel's team but substitute Bakary Kone blasted a chance over and then Drogba turned the ball wide of the post after a free kick, before he netted to give the score the respectability it deserved. Argentina then had another effort disallowed before the final whistle. 
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