Australia's men's football team suffered a 1-0 defeat to the Ivory Coast in their final group clash on Wednesday evening, bowing out of the Olympics without a win from three matches. A clinical Salomon Kalou strike in the 81st minute proved the difference between the two sides, with the Olyroos unable to produce a goal in a match they needed to win to have any chance of proceeding to the quarter-finals.
Sheffield United winger David Carney had a chance to find the back of the net for Australia in the first half but his shot was blocked on the line by the last-ditch Ivory Coast defence.
Billy Celeski also found himself in a position to score in the second half but his free header was off target for the Olyroos.
The Ivory Coast 'Elephants' had a wealth of possession and produced a number of chances but it was not until nine minutes from the end of regulation time that they finished the game off.
After some flowing lead-up work from the Ivorians, Kalou calmly slotted the ball into the top-right corner past goalkeeper Adam Federici to consign Australia to an early exit.
Earlier in the tournament the Olyroos drew 1-1 with Serbia and lost 1-0 to Argentina, finishing bottom of the group with a solitary point.
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