RECIFE, Brazil - Didier Drogba came off the bench to inspire Cote dIvoire to a 2-1 comeback victory over Japan in a World Cup Group C match on Saturday. Drogba, who had been carrying an injury, came on in the 62nd minute when his team was losing 1-0. The talismanic strikers arrival immediately lifted Cote dIvoire team and Wilfried Bony and Gervinho scored with headers two minutes apart. Both goals were set up by curling crosses from defender Serge Aurier. Coach Sabri Lamouchis inspired substitution negated Keisuke Hondas first half goal that had given Japan the lead in a group that also includes Colombia and Greece. Colombia beat Greece 3-0 earlier on Saturday. The 36-year-old former Chelsea star started for Cote dIvoire in the last two World Cups, but neither of those sides made it out of group play. He probably lacks the fitness to play 90 minutes these days, but his impact as a substitute can be dramatic, as was shown on a rainy night in Recife. Now Cote dIvoire is in good shape to advance to the second round for the first time. Next up is Colombia, the group leader by virtue of goal difference. That match is Thursday, as is Japans next test against Greece. Japan had the better of the play in the first half, taking a lead through Hondas hard left-footed strike from about 12 yards in the 16th minute. Yuto Nagatomo slid a pass across the edge of the penalty area to Honda, who settled the ball cleanly with his right foot before belting his 21st career international goal under the cross bar and inside the near post. Japan had several chances to widen its lead in the opening 45 minutes, and will rue missing them. Just minutes after Hondas goal, Japan defender Atsuto Uchida made a run down the right and unloaded a point-blank shot that Cote dIvoire goalkeeper Boubacar Barry parried. Hondas curling shot from the edge of the penalty area soon after forced Barry to make a leaping save. Cote dIvoire dominated the second half but the sluggish-looking team was making little headway until the arrival of Drogba galvanized it. Within minutes, Bonys angled header found the goal and then Gervinho scored with a near post header that goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima should have saved. Japan could not make any impression on Cote dIvoire defence in the remaining 20 minutes. The game marked the World Cup debut for Lamouchi, a 42-year-old Frenchman of Moroccan descent who was widely seen as a surprise hire in 2012. It was also an unpopular move among fans in Cote dIvoire, who favoured a more experienced coach for a team which has been to the previous two World Cups, and which has a number of players who have flourished in Europes top professional leagues. Damian Jones Jersey . 3. Trevor Ariza left them talkin about 40. Ariza made eight 3-pointers and scored a career-high 40 points to help the Washington Wizards win their sixth straight game, 122-103 over Philadelphia on Saturday night. DeAndre Hunter Hawks Jersey .Murray has played 20 matches in five weeks, winning three titles to climb to fifth in the ATP Race.The two-time Grand Slam champion also seeks to qualify for next months ATP World Tour Finals.Murray said: I always wanted to qualify for it, but also I want to get back into the top 8 players in the world and it makes a huge difference for seedings in the major events. https://www.thehawkslockerroom.com/Spud-...Edition-Jersey/. Chelsea took until the second half to trouble the leagues bottom team, but Schuerrle then ripped through the defence with ease at Craven Cottage to keep Jose Mourinhos side on track for the title. Mike Bibby Jersey . But that changed when he committed a five-minute major penalty and helped pave the way for a comeback by the Philadelphia Flyers. Vincent Lecavalier scored at 2:45 of overtime and the Flyers rallied from a two-goal deficit for a 5-4 victory on Sunday. Tracy Mcgrady Hawks Jersey . - Tom Brady was upset that his New England Patriots hardly looked like a division champion in the first half.SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - Toronto Marlies right-winger Connor Brown was named American Hockey League rookie of the month Friday.He had five goals and seven assists ovver 14 games last month for the Marlies.ddddddddddddBrown was drafted in the sixth round of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft by the Toronto Maple Leafs. ' ' '