MATCH REPORT: CAMEROON FALLS TO MEXICO IN FIRST GROUP GAME.

African giants Cameroon on Friday lost 1-0 to South American side Mexico in their opening group A encounter in the FIFA World Cup at the Estadio das Dunas. A 62^nd minute was all Mexico needed to secure all three points at stake.

It was a massive turn out at the 42,000 capacity Estadio das Dunas in Natal as Cameroon began Africa’s campaign at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. The fans were absolutely delighted and expectant in the second game of this year FIFA World Cup. Africa was on tenterhooks to have one of their reps open the show on a bright note. The rains touring and the fans will distort the rains. Colorful atmosphere. The two teams have been tagged rather unfairly by pundits as underdogs in group A. The stage was set for an uncompromising roar between an African country and a South American country. Victory for either side would be critical.

The Cameroonians lead by inspiring skipper Samuel Eto’o who was making his fourth World Cup Appearance were eager to secure their first win at the World Cup since 2002. Mexico going into this game had never beaten an African side and was eager to break that jinx.

It was early days yet as the Africans built up slowly. But it was Mexico who looked a little bit sharper up front. In the 3^rd minute Paul Aguilar’s cross went side netting after some excellent touches from the South Americans. It was still early days yet. Mexico still threatens an early lead as they pinned the Cameroonians to their own half in the first 5 minutes of the game. Mexico in the first 7 minutes meant business as they showed threat attacking the Cameroonians. The Indomitable Lions struggling to keep position at early stages. The Mexicans still kept on panting holes in the Cameroonian defense. In the 8^th minutes Hector Herrera had his shot go over the bar. A dominant 10 minutes by the Mexicans as they had created more opportunities.

In the 11^th minutes a highly contestable decision by the assistant referee as he disallowed a Dos Santos goal which seemed to be a clear goal, flagging the attacker offside. Cameroon will thank their stars for a very debatable decision by referee  Wilmar Roldan. Cameroon had been reduced to their defensive shelf as the Mexicans kept on dominating the game. In the 15^th minute Maxim Choupo-Moting had his goal disallowed after Eto’o was also caught offside.

Samuel Eto’o showed his instinct when he popped up to get a touch to beat Mexican goalkeeper Ochoa in the 20^th minutes, but a timely intervention by Mexican defender Francisco Rodriguez saw the ball go out to corner. Mexico kept themselves going as they exhibited some great football with some sweet touches. Samuel Eto’o could have shot Cameroon in front after blasting the ball wide following an excellent work from left back Benoit Assou-Ekotto down the left. Cameroon from then showed encouraging signs up front as they once again came close to score in the 23^rd minutes. The Africans were beginning to show signs of earnestness in their game. After 25 minutes of action, Mexico predictably had enjoyed 60% of possession with 40% going to Cameroon.

Cameroon were very fortunate in the 26^th minutes after a perfect cross from Dos Santos saw Marquez failing to get his head to what seem as a free header. Once again questions were raised on the Cameroonian defense as they had been porous throughout the first 30 minutes. Another frustrating moment for Mexico as they had a second goal being denied in the 31^st minute. Twice Dos Santos had been denied a goal by assistant referee. Mexico coach Miguel Herrara was left in amusement on the touchline. Another debatable decision by the assistant referee. Very unlucky on the part of the Mexicans who had looked good and has dominated the game. Herrera had no option than to complain to the forth official on the touch line. Cameroon still showed naivety in the game as they looked sluggish in building attacks. It was all Mexico in the first 45 minutes.

Although the rains kept on pouring it never affected the excitement in the game. Cameroonian midfielder Stephan M’bia could have received the first booking of the game after engaging in an unnecessary challenge on Mexican midfielder Jose Vazquez. Cameroon once again had their defense breached after Andres Guardado laid a nice through pass to Oribe Peralta, but Cameroonian goalkeeper Charles Itanje was quick to react in the 41^st minutes. Mexico still played the ball around delightfully and in the 43^rd minutes Peralta capitalizes on a chance to shot at goal.

Mexico’s Peralta once had his diving header go wide following a cross from  Aguilar, but the striker had already been flagged offside.

After 45 minutes there was nothing to be said on the score sheet as the game still remain barren but it was Mexico who had been enterprising and has created more opportunities up front. Finally referee  Wilmar Roldan blew his whistle to bring the first half to an end.

The temperature was still soaring as they rain dropped unabated in the second half. Cameroon German coach Volke Finke made his first substitution just at the beginning of the second half bringing on Dany Noukeu for Aurelian Chedjou. In the 47^th minutes Mexico had an opportunity to raise their tails up as a perfect through pass from Guardado saw Peralta shooting the ball at goal, only for goalkeeper Charles Itandje to take a brave decision to come of his line and get his legs to the ball to prevent the Mexicans from going in front. 

The anxiety in the game had reduced as both teams remained cautious in the second half. In the 55^th minutes Vazquez one time touch into the penalty area of Cameroon was never going to trouble Itanje in post. Hector Moreno was booked in the 56^th minutes after bringing down M’bia on the edge of the box. A perfect free kick from Assou -Ekotto took a vicious deflection as they ball went wide to corner. An ambitious attempt by the Cameroonian left back. Cameroon were gradually warming themselves into the game.

Mexico had their effort rewarded when they shot themselves in the lead after Peralta capitalized on a rebound to slot the ball behind the net following an earlier effort by Giovanni Dos Santos 62^nd minutes. Cameroon showed some urgency after conceding the goal. Mexico coach Herrara brought on Marco Fabian for Andres Guardado in the 67^th minutes. In the in the 71^st minutes a counter break by Cameroon saw Moukandjo’s reaching cross to Samuel Eto’o go out to touch. The Mexicans still looked untroubled.

In the 72^nd minutes goal scorer Peralta was taken off for Hernandez Chicharito. The 26 year old forward had completed his job for the day as he received applauds from the fans. In the 76^th minutes Dany Nounkeu received a booking after needlessly bringing down Fabian on the left had side of the box. Cameroon however took off midfielder Alex Song for striker Pierre Achille Webo in the 78^th minutes in other to be efficient up front. Samuel Eto’o had his ambitious effort go wide in the 79^th minutes. A corner kick from Assou-Ekotto eludes everybody as Cameroon failed to get a head on the ball. Mexico still threatened in front of goal when Chicharito sent in a low grounder cross to Fabian in the 80^th minutes only for Cameroonian substitute defender Dany Nounkeu to intervene. Mexico still kept their position as they made sure they protected their 1-0 lead. With 6 minutes to go Choupo-Moting’s shot went straight into the arms of defender Hector Moreno in the box. A clear penalty situation but the referee will not take any of that.

Cameroon missed a glorious opportunity in the 86^th minutes when Moukandjo sent in a cross from the right hand side of attack only for Rodriguez to clear the ball out of the danger zone as Cameroon Coach Volke Finke watched on astonished.

Time was running for the Africans as they moved forward in search of the equalizer. A fantastic save from Mexican goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa in the 90^th minute saw Mexico maintain their lead following a Moukandjo’s header. Javier Henandez could have done better in the 91^st minutes when he had his touch go over the bar after a perfect cross from Fabian. Cameroon moved forward as Mexico kept their lead so jealously.

After 90 plus 4 minutes La Verde broke the jinx of not securing a win over an African country as they took away all three points. A disappointing moment for the Volke Finke and his men losing their opening game of the tournament. 

Mexico Starting XI: Guillermo Ochoa, Rafael Marquez, Hector Moreno, Francisco, Rodriguez, Miguel Layun, Paul Aguilar, Andres Guardado/Marco Fabian, Hector Herrera, Giovani Dos Santos, Oribe Peralta.

Cameroon Starting XI: Charles Itandje, Nicolas N’Koulou, Benoit Assou-Ekotto, Cedric Djeugoue/ Dany Nounkeu, Alex Song/ Peirre Webo, Eyong Enoh, Stephan M’bia, Samuel Eto’o ,Maxim Choupo-Moting, Benjamin Moukandjo.

By Frank Darkwah

Follow Frank Darkwah on twitter.@Blaqqkoffi