HAMBURG, June 10 - The ghost of Argentina's defensive frailties almost came back to haunt the twice former world champions on Saturday when they squeezed a 2-1 win over Ivory Coast.

First-half goals by Hernan Crespo and Javier Saviola gave Jose Pekerman's side victory in their World Cup Group C opener at the AOL Arena.

Argentina have now scored two goals in each of their last four matches, evidence the team have the potential to punish defensive mistakes by their other group rivals Serbia & Montenegro and Netherlands.

Juan Roman Riquelme was the key to their success in midfield, laying on both goals, the first a free kick pounced on by Crespo, the second when he threaded a superb ball through the middle of the defence for Saviola.

Argentina have also evidently worked on correcting the mistakes at the back that led to their 3-2 defeats by England and Croatia in November and March, when they gave away 2-1 leads late on.

The two-goal cushion stood Argentina in good stead, especially when Didier Drogba pulled one back and Ivory Coast threatened to equalise in a frantic final 10 minutes.

Ivory Coast might have scored earlier in the match but for poor finishing and good defending by Roberto Ayala and Gabriel Heinze in the centre.

The Ivorian danger came from the flanks where Nicolas Burdisso on the right often gave the ball away and the fast attacking of Emmanuel Eboue and Kanga Akale caused problems.

KEEPER CALM

Ivory Coast were by no means reduced to a secondary role in an exciting match that vindicated Pekerman's decision to start with Crespo and Saviola up front.

The Africans can still have a big say in how the group, one of the toughest, turns out.

An indication, however, that Argentina are finding equilibrium and understanding at the back was expressed by goalkeeper Roberto Abbondanzieri, who had conceded the six goals against England and Croatia.

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