Nicolas Pepe scored twice as Ivory Coast defeated Curacao 2-0 to reach the World Cup knockout stages for the first time in their history. The former Arsenal forward opened the scoring in the seventh minute after Yan Diomande's clever square pass, then sealed the victory with a composed finish in the 64th minute following Ibrahim Sangare's pinpoint delivery.

Ivory Coast only needed a point to advance from Group E, but controlled proceedings throughout against the tournament debutants. Pepe converted two of their three shots on target, while Curacao's attacking threat was limited to just 0.13 expected goals despite showing resilience after their heavy 7-1 defeat to Germany.

Curacao's fairytale run ended in Philadelphia, though they depart with credit after pushing Germany close and securing a draw with Ecuador in their previous outing. Goalkeeper Eloy Room's heroics throughout the group stage, including a record 15 saves against Ecuador, kept them competitive until the final whistle.

The result marks a significant milestone for Ivory Coast football, ending years of underachievement on the world stage and setting up a last-16 clash against tougher opposition. Pepe's clinical performance justified his selection and provided the platform for Emerse Fae's side to progress.