(Al Wakrah) Cameroon, led 3-1 a little less than half an hour from the end, stayed alive in this World Cup-2022 by hanging Serbia (3-3) after a crazy match between two teams in very unfavorable waivers in group G, Monday in Doha.
The winner of the match between Brazil and Switzerland later in the day will qualify for the round of 16.
While the Eagles, dominating, seemed to have flown to an easy success shortly before the hour mark, the Lions (indomitable) took advantage of the sufficiency of their opponents to correct a compromised situation, thanks to a Vincent Aboubakar on fire , author of a goal and an assist shortly after his return to play in the 55the.
To survive in a group dominated by Brazil and Switzerland, thanks to their success in the inaugural matches, Serbs and Cameroonians were already back to the wall on Monday at the al-Janoub stadium, almost forced not to lose.
With this in mind, the Serbs took the option of the offensive against more cautious opponents, betting on counter-attacks or set pieces.
Aleksandar Mitrovic thus offered himself three goal opportunities at the start of the match: a badly calibrated header (6e), a shot crashing into the post (11e) and a big miss alone in front of goal (17e).
Once this storm passed, Cameroon took advantage of a corner to open the scoring 1-0 at the half-hour mark thanks to Castelletto, on the reception at the far post of a ball deflected from the head by Nicolas Nkoulou on a corner returning from the left (29e).
Poorly paid, the Serbs relied on an uncrossed header from Strahinja Pavlovic (well served by Dusan Tadic) to get back into the match shortly before the break (45+1).
– Aboubakar’s ladle –
And 120 seconds later, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic cooled off the African supporters with a shot from the edge of the area (45+3).
A shot from the left of “texto” on which goalkeeper Devis Epassy could have done better, the replacement for the usual holder André Onona (dismissed before the match for disciplinary reasons) having lacked firmness on his line.
At the 53e minute, Mitrovic signed the 3-1 with his 51e goal in selection by concluding after his teammates have played with an opposing defense at bay.
What followed was incredible. Perhaps too sure of themselves, Dragan Stojkovic’s men actually let the meeting slip away. In three minutes (63e and 66e), Aboubakar allowed his people to pick up thanks to an improbable ladle and an assist to Choupo-Moting, scorer. Two goals scored on the edge of offside, following a misalignment of the Serbian defense.
This draw, if it gives hope to the two teams to get out of the group stage, however leaves the two formations in tow of the Nati and the Seleçao who clash later in the day to dispute the head of the G group.
The last day will feature Serbia-Switzerland and Cameroon-Brazil duels.