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. Jared Goff Jersey .com) - The Vancouver Canucks hope an upcoming stretch of home games will be enough to get the club into the postseason. Todd Gurley II Rams Jersey .Kessy tried to show what he can do playing left wing for the Oilers in 5-0 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday in pre-season action. http://www.footballramsshop.us/authentic...-rams-jersey/.C. -- Duke sophomore Rodney Hood is entering the NBA draft. Tyler Higbee Youth Jersey . After missing 20 games as a rookie a year ago, Valanciunas - like the Raptors as a whole - has been fortunate to be in good health this season. As he spoke about it, the Raptors sophomore centre scanned the room for wood to knock on. "It is disappointing because we lost today so thats the worst part of the day," said Valanciunas, who left Tuesdays game with a lower-back sprain in the third quarter, missing the rest of Torontos 118-113 overtime defeat at the hands of the Hawks. Eric Dickerson Rams Jersey . -- David Ortiz saved his only hit for a key moment for the Boston Red Sox.Carey Prices road to recovery took another step forward on Tuesday. The Montreal Canadiens netminder participated in light full practice drills at the teams morning skate and took the majority of reps at one end of the ice while sharing a net with Dustin Tokarski. Price worked with Peter Budaj and Tokarski during Tuesdays skate and was dropping to the butterfly position, considered progress in his rehab. During the teams recent west coast road trip, the 26-year-old Price was only making lateral and forward/backward movements in his net while staying on his feet. Once the team switched to 3-1 and 3-2 drills, Price worked alone with goaltending coach Stephane Waite, with heavy concentration on staying in his butterfly. Price originally suffered a lower-body injury at the Sochi Olympics. In the first post-Olympics practice, he left the ice after moving laterally to make a save during a power-play drill..dddddddddddd He was placed on injured reserve on March 3. Head coach Michel Therrien said following Tuesdays practice that hes disappointed his starting goaltender was injured in Sochi but the experience and success he enjoyed will benefit him and the team long term. Therrien wouldnt disclose his starting goalie or lineup changes for Wednesdays game versus the Boston Bruins, but said winger Brandon Prust (upper-body injury) is ready to return. Prust missed the last seven games after injuring himself on the first day back following the week off for the Olympic break. Budaj has handled the responsibilities in net for Montreal with Prices absence, with Dustin Tokarski backing up. Price has a 26-17-5 record this season for the Canadiens, with a 2.33 goals-against average and .925 save percentage. The Canadiens are home to the Ottawa Senators on Saturday and they travel to Buffalo on Sunday. ' ' '