DOHA: While it was a game for the strikers, with Vincent Aboubakar, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting and Aleksandar Mitrovic all scoring for their nations, Cameroon avoided what would have been a record-equalling World Cup defeat against Serbia.
First Strahinja Pavlovic headed home a free-kick before Sergej Milinkovic-Savic presented a low left-foot shot into the right corner two minutes later. Aleksandar Mitrovic, who had earlier hit the post and missed two more chances, increased Serbia’s lead with his 51st international goal but the Fulham striker couldn’t reclaim victory late on as he curled another effort wide.
“The third for Serbia was a beautifully worked that was started and finished by Mitrovic. He drove towards the Cameroon box and after a succession of passes inside the penalty area, the ball was squared by Andrija Zivkovic and the burly number nine had a simple tap-in.
That was the cue for Aboubakar to come off the bench. First he provided a perfect chip into the net for 3-2, then he beat the offside trap, raced clear and whipped over a low cross for Choupo-Moting to level the tie and keep Cameroon alive in the competition.” Reuters
It leaves both sides with a struggle to progress from Group G, with Brazil and Switzerland – who meet later today – in pole position to reach the round of 16.
Teams:
Cameroon starting XI: Fai, Castelletto, N’Koulou, Tolo, Zambo, Kunde, Hongla, Mbeumo, Choupo-Moting, Toko Ekambi.
Serbia starting XI: Vanja Milinkovic-Savic, Milenkovic, Veljkovic, Pavlovic, Zivkovic, Lukic, Maksimovic, Kostic, Tadic, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Aleksandar Mitrovic
sources:theathletic/sportingnews/telegraph
