Holland’s Oranje have beaten Ivory Coast 2-1, with the Ivory Coast’s Elephants pushing them hard for an equaliser in the second-half in their World Cup Group C match in Stuttgart on Friday.

First-half goals from Arsenal's van Persie and Man Utd's van Nistelrooy for Holland and Bakary Kone drawing one back for the hardworking Elephants.

Both teams started at a very fast pace, with attacking intent on both sides and half-chances that caused no problems for either Edwin van der Sar, or his Ivorian counterpart Jean-Jacques Tizie.

A free-kick for Holland in the 22nd minute, just outside of the penalty area, saw Arsenal’s Robin van Persie scoring the opening goal, with a lovely strike that curled round the wall and past the leaping keeper Tizie.

Ivory Coast then had a couple of minor attacks before Didier Zakora was booked in the 24th minute, for a challenge on van Bommel.

Holland started to get control of the match, with Chelsea’s Arjen Robben making some decent runs into the Ivorian half.

Holland doubled their lead in the 26th minute with a strike by Ruud van Nistelrooy.

Holland broke from their own half after an Ivorian attack, and van Bommel played a lovely through ball for the Manchester United striker to latch onto, and he hit his shot past Tizie from 5 yards to make it 2-0.

The Ivorian’s weren’t holding their heads down after having conceded two goals, and came very close to pulling a goal back when Didier Zokora rattled the crossbar from a 25-yard strike, which gave the African’s a measure of confidence.

Robben had a dive in the penalty area waved away by the referee in the 34th minute, when he only received the slightest of touches from Arouna Kone, but the Ivorians were pushing the Oranje defence.

A free-kick from Romaric in the 36th minute was headed high by Drogba, before just two minutes later Bakary Kone broke through the Ornje defence and scored with a stunning long-range shot that gave van der Sar no chance.

Both sides continued to press, but the scores went into half-time 2-1 to Marco van Baten's Oranje, but with the Ivorians really on the ascendancy.

The Ivorian Elephants were now definitely on the charge, and an attack from Didier Drogba almost got through, but he was defended well.

Didier Zokora was constantly a threat from the Ivorians, and Emmanuel Eboue almost got a strike on-target, but it was defended well.

Arthur Boka was brought down by van Bommel, which saw him being stretchered off the pitch, and just minutes later Romaric being subbed for Gilles Yapi Yapo in the 60th minute.

Van Bommel was brought down by Arthur Boka, in a challenge that could have seen the Ivorian defender being sent-off, but the referee just awarded a free-kick which the Oranje failed to utilise.

Both teams continued pressing with some more half-chances for both teams, but the defences holding strong on both sides.

Van Nistelrooy was subbed in the 73rd minute for Rafael van der Vaart and his right knee was immediately treated with ice on the bench.

Still it was the single goal that was the only difference between the two teams as the Elephants continued to press for an equaliser.

Didier Drogba had a header cleared off the line by Arjen Robben, which the Ivorian’s claimed as a handball, and it was definitely the Oranje who were hardest pressed in the second-half.

Drogba was yet again denied by the Dutch defence in the 80th minute, with substitute Kanga Akale and Yapi Yapo causing problems for van der Sar.

Another dangerous free-kick was easily quashed by the Ivorian’s, with Didier Zokora getting fouled during the Dutch attack by van Persie.

Robben was still the main dangerman for Holland, but was finding his space restricted by the Ivory Coast defenders, and the Ivorian’s continued to press for an equaliser.

Holland had a chance in the dying minutes, but the ball flashed just in front of goal, and was easily marshalled away.

Ivory Coast had some late chances to get a result, but Edwin van der Sar did well to deny them.

Marco van Basten was thoroughly relieved to hear the final whistle in a game that the World Cup debutantes could have won.