Georgios Samaras’ penalty in stoppage time sent Greece to a 2-1 victory and into the last 16 in a stunning finish to their wild Group C finale in Sao Paulo.
Ivory Coast were seconds from advancing to the last 16 for the first time but Giovanni Sio was called for a foul on Samaras inside the box. Samaras made no mistake and side-footed the ball past goalkeeper Boubacar Barry three minutes into injury time.
Greece will face Costa Rica in last 16.
Trailing 1-0 in the second half after Andreas Samaris' goal three minutes from half-time, Ivory Coast turned up the pressure and the Greeks produced a number of good chances in their counter-attack.
Finally in the 74th minute, Ivory Coast’s Gervinho set up Wilfried Bony for the tying goal and it looked as if the Ivorians would eliminate Greece.
Greece finished with four points, behind Group winner Colombia’s nine. Ivory Coast had three points and Japan just one.