WORLD CUP: Ivory Coast 3, North Korea 0

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NELSPRUIT, South Africa, June 25 (UPI) -- Yaya Toure, Romaric and Salomon Kalou scored goals Friday that carried Ivory Coast to a 3-0 World Cup victory over North Korea.

Ivory Coast needed to win and overcome a huge goal-differential deficit for a chance to advance out of group play and so peppered the North Korean defense throughout the contest.

That was particularly apparent in the first half when Ivory Coast fired 14 shots on goal, 10 of which were on target, giving North Korean goalkeeper Ri Myong Guk a very busy day. Ivory Coast ended with 26 shots, 15 on target.

But Friday's three-goal margin wasn't enough to push Ivory Coast (1-1-1) into the elimination round and it finished third in Group G. North Korea (0-3-0) was fourth and group leaders Brazil and Portugal, which played to a 0-0 draw Friday, continue World Cup play next week.

The Ivory Coast attack was relentless and paid dividends early when Arthur Boka found Toure for the first score in the 14th minute and 6 minutes later when Romaric made it 2-0.

Didier Drogba set up the Romaric score with a shot that went off the underside of the crossbar. Romaric was able to out-leap the North Korean defenders and head the ball in.

Kalou converted a crossing pass from the right by Boka for close-in shot past Ri in the 82nd minute for the final goal.