Cameroon beats Brazil 1-0 but bows out of World Cup
LUSAIL, Qatar— A late goal from captain Vincent Aboubakar ended Cameroon’s 20-year wait to win the World Cup as the Indomitable Lions bowed in style by beating a transformed Brazil much 1-0 at Lusail Stadium on Friday.
With the spot already in hand after victories over Serbia and Switzerland, Brazil still won Group G, ahead of Switzerland by goal difference, and will face the runner-up of Group H Korea, who have beaten defeated Portugal 2-1, in the next round.
Cameroon, whose last win at the World Cup was in 2002 against Saudi Arabia, was in a weak position for most of the match but revived after his death. Aboubakar headed home Ederson and was sent off for a second yellow card for taking off his shirt in celebration.
This was Cameroon’s first win over Brazil at the World Cup and the first loss of the South American giants to their African opponents in finals.
Brazil have by far been the team with more possession and creating more chances than their opponents, but in the end it was Cameroon with the only statistic that really mattered.
“We dominated the game and had some chances, the only thing missing was a goal,” said Brazil’s Eder Militao.
“We should have scored but the lack of attention in a game made them score. It’s frustrating considering the way we play.”
The match took place in a relatively calm atmosphere at Lusail’s cavernous Stadium, the biggest venue of the tournament, with Brazil’s reserve team eager to impress but Tite’s side could not claim their finesse. their usual economy.
Gabriel Martinelli was Brazil’s liveliest player and nearly put the five-time champions ahead in the 14th minute when he was passed by Fred, but the Arsenal striker’s header blocked it. breaking the brilliant response of Devis Epassy.
Cameroon had little to do with an attacking threat until first-half injury time, when Nicolas Moumi Ngamaleu’s cross was met with a dangerous header from Bryan Mbeumo that Ederson saved with a single hand.
Tite had seen enough and made three changes shortly after the interval, bringing in Marquinho to replace the injured Alex Telles, and replacing Rodrygo and Fred with Everton Ribeiro and Bruno Guimaraes.
The substitutes stirred up Brazil with a series of unexpected opportunities as Epassy was forced to play three times in the same minute.
First, Martinelli hit the Cameroon goalkeeper in the 56th minute.
Next, Militao tried his luck from a later corner to lure the fumbling Cameroon goalkeeper, who had recovered just in time to get the ball out to safety, before a lively Antony took action, forcing Epassy had to rush the saver to stop his attempt.
Tite sent Pedro on in the 64th minute and Raphinha in the 79th as Brazil tried to save their perfect record in the table, but Cameroon held on until Aboubakar arrived at the right place, just in time to seize his moment. that.
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