Cameroon v Brazil: Key moments as Seleção top group as Lions crash out
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Key moments:
90+11' There will be no more action in this match as the referee signals full time.
90+9' Bruno Guimaraes (Brazil) wastes a golden opportunity from inside the six-yard box after firing the ball a few inches over the crossbar. The ball goes out of play and Cameroon will have a goal kick.
90+3' An infringement by Vincent Aboubakar (Cameroon) results in a yellow card and as it's the second time today, he also sees a red and is dismissed by Ismail Elfath.
90+3' 1 - 0 Jerome Ngom Mbekeli sends a superb cross into the box. Vincent Aboubakar (Cameroon) latches on to it and from close range plants a header into the bottom right corner, leaving Ederson beaten. He displayed his eye for goal there - excellent finish. The score is 1:0.
86' The referee signals that it is time for a substitution and Jerome Ngom Mbekeli (Cameroon) will replace Nicolas Moumi Ngamaleu.
85' Ismail Elfath shows a yellow card to Bruno Guimaraes (Brazil) for a tough tackle.
81' A yellow card for a tackle by Vincent Aboubakar (Cameroon). Ismail Elfath doesn't hesitate at all to make this decision.
79' The manager makes a subsitution with Raphinha (Brazil) coming on for Antony.
68' The game has come to an end for Pierre Kunde. He has contributed as much as he could today. He will be replaced by the fresh legs of Olivier Ntcham (Cameroon).
64' Tite has decided to introduce fresh legs, with Pedro (Brazil) replacing Gabriel Jesus.
64' Substitution. Bryan Mbeumo is replaced by Karl Toko Ekambi (Cameroon).
56' Gabriel Martinelli (Brazil) beats his marker and unleashes a thunderbolt of a shot from the edge of the box. Devis Epassy sees the ball late but does well to stop it going into the roof of the net. The ball is out of play and the linesman points at the corner flag. Corner to Brazil.
55' Substitution. Bruno Guimaraes (Brazil) receives a signal from the referee and is now allowed to enter the pitch as Fred walks off.
55' Tite prepares a substitution. Alex Telles is replaced by Marquinhos (Brazil).
55' Everton Ribeiro (Brazil) joins the action as a substitute, replacing Rodrygo.
51' Vincent Aboubakar (Cameroon) has to stretch for the ball in the box and sends it just wide of the left post. The ball is off of the pitch and it's a goal kick for Brazil.
46' The half-time break is over and the second half is about to start.
45+5' The match has reached half-time.
45+3' A header by Bryan Mbeumo (Cameroon) from very close range goes towards the top left corner, but doesn't get past Ederson, who makes a brilliant save.
45+1' Gabriel Martinelli (Brazil) finds himself in space on the edge of the box and smashes a glorious looking effort towards the roof of the net, but Devis Epassy thwarts him with a great two-handed save. Brazil have been awarded a corner kick.
32' Collins Fai (Cameroon) sees a yellow card from Ismail Elfath after he sent one of the opposing players to the ground.
28' Ismail Elfath shows the yellow card to Pierre Kunde (Cameroon) for a heavy challenge.
14' Gabriel Martinelli (Brazil) rises above the opponent's defence and heads a precise cross towards the roof of the net. His effort, however, is blocked by Devis Epassy, who pulls off a stunning save! Brazil earn a corner.
7' The foul by Eder Militao (Brazil) is worthy of a card and a yellow is duly shown by Ismail Elfath.
6' Nouhou Tolo (Cameroon) makes a bad challenge and receives a yellow card. The referee had no doubt.
1' Today's match has just started, enjoy the game!
Brazil starting XI: Ederson, Dani Alves, Bremer, Militao, Telles, Antony, Fabinho, Fred, Rodrygo, Jesus, Martinelli
Cameroon starting XI: Epassy, Too, Ebosse, Wooh, Fai, Kunde, Anguissa, Moumi Ngamaleu, Choupo-Moting, Mbeumo, Aboubakar
Preview
Cameroon’s hopes of negotiating a World Cup group for the first time in 32 years were kept alive by a spirited comeback against Serbia last time out, with the Indomitable Lions roaring from 3-1 down to record a 3-3 draw.
However, the five-time AFCON champions still have no choice but to go all out for victory in their Group G finale, but even with victory they would still need a favourable result from the Serbia and Switzerland game.
As if the situation wasn’t difficult enough, no African team has beaten Brazil for nearly two decades. In fact, Cameroon’s 1-0 FIFA Confederations Cup win over the Seleção in 2003 remains the only time a CAF-region team has ever beaten Brazil or kept a clean sheet against them – with current coach Rigobert Song captaining the starting XI on the day!
A hard-fought 1-0 victory over Switzerland on Monday courtesy of Casemiro’s late strike secured Brazil’s safe passage to the knockout stage. In turn, the Seleção’s hoped route to another world title – a record-extending sixth of all time – could still be perfect, with no group stage draws or penalty shootouts. That was the case in both 1970 and 2002, when Mário Zagallo and Luiz Felipe Scolari respectively masterminded those flawless triumphs.
The latter success also forms part of what is already a pre-tournament record ten straight World Cups where Brazil have won the group stage. But while coach Tite is fully expected to make it 11 in a row here against Group G’s worst FIFA-ranked side, he might opt to rest some main influencers. Largely because the likes of 1950 showpiece conquerors Uruguay, high-scoring Ghana and Euro 2016 winners Portugal potentially lie in wait just days later, but he is also safe in the knowledge Brazil have beaten Cameroon by a three-goal margin in both prior World Cup meetings (1994 and 2014).
Key battle: Though four of his last six competitive goals have opened the scoring, Eric Choupo-Moting equalised against Serbia to ensure that Cameroon did not match Mexico’s 64-year old record of nine straight defeats at the finals. His main nemesis will be Brazilian stopper Alisson, who could complete a hat-trick of group stage shutouts – something attained by only three other goalkeepers this century prior to the current tournament!
Hot stat: Brazil have scored exactly three times in five of their seven previous World Cup wins over African opposition.
World Cup trivia: For at least another four years, Didi (1954), Jairzinho (1970) and Romário (1994) are guaranteed to remain the only Brazilians to have scored in every group game of a post-war finals featuring 16+ teams (1954-present).
