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| March 11th 2005 |
Rome, Stadio Nazionale
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| CAMEROON - NORTHERN IRELAND |
1-2 (0-0)
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GOALS 57' 0-1 Peter McParland
71' 1-1 Francois Omam-Biyik
85' 1-2 Jim McIllroy
REFEREE Maurice Guigue (France)
ATTENDANCE 29,000
YELLOW CARDS Onana, N'Dip, Geremi (CMR) - McCracken (NIR)
CAMEROON (Coach: Valeri Nepomniaschi, system 4-3-3)
1 Thomas N'Kono (2nd capt)
2 Stephen Tataw
14 Jules Onana
6 Emmanuel Kunde (capt) (-37)
3 Pierre Wome
13 Geremi Njitap
18 Lauren Etamé-Mayer (-80)
11 Theophile Abega
7 Francois Omam-Biyik
9 Roger Milla
20 Patrick Mboma (-46)
Substitutes:
17 Viktor N'Dip (+37)
10 Jean-Manga Onguene (+46)
8 Gregoire M'Bida (+80)
NORTHERN IRELAND (Coach: Tommy Doherty, system 4-3-3)
1 Pat Jennings
3 Pat Rice
5 William McCracken
6 Danny Blanchflower (capt)
13 Sammy Nelson
8 Norman Whiteside (-82)
15 Martin O'Neill (-75)
4 Sammy McIllroy
7 George Best
9 Gerry Armstrong (-55)
11 Peter McParland
Substitutes:
12 Jim McIllroy (+55)
19 David McCreery (+75)
16 Bily Bingham (+82)
MATCHREPORT
The last chance to play their role in this All Time World Cup for both
Cameroon and Northern Ireland produced a disappointing match in the old Rome
stadium. Both teams were driven by fear and not able to make the play though they
needed a win at all costs. George Best, a big star in the first -
though lost - match against Portugal, wasn't on song this time and didn't
seem to be too interested either. For Cameroon all strikers, including guns
like Omam-Biyik and Milla, remained below par.
Northern Ireland coach Doherty kept faith in the team he ended the last
match with. So no starting place this time for Donaghy and Dougan, but
Nelson and Armstrong from the first minute. Russian coach Nepomniaschi,
responsible for Cameroon's biggest World Cup performance in 1990, had to
miss Rigobert Song, suspended after his red card during the match against
Brazil. For him Wome, a substitute against Brazil, came into the team.
Furthermore, Nepomniaschi found no place for Kalla, M'Bida and Kana-Biyik.
Onana, Lauren and Abega got their chance. From the tactical point of view,
Mboma now played as a striker where against Brazil he had acted as a
midfielder. Cameroon tried with three men up front this time.
In the first half, very little to enjoy. Mostly in midfield, the ball never
found a man of the same team more than twice. Numerous fouls were committed
and good passes a rarity. The brutal way both teams tried to find their
success forced referee Guigue to show yellow cards. William McCracken, the
massive Irish defender, was the first to receive one for a clumsy tackle on
Mboma. Onana followed soon for intentionally handling the ball, N'Dip who
came in after a little more than half an hour for injured Kunde, immediately
got cautioned for fouling Best. Later in the match Geremi was the fourth to
go into Guigue's book. So very little good football with only one
interesting moment in the first 45 minutes. Whiteside bumped a way through
the Cameroon defence and passed to Armstrong. The centre forward, left alone
by Onana, shot it miserably wide. That was all. Cameroon had no single
moment to remember.
Nepomniaschi understood that this way the story would soon be over. He
replaced Mboma, totally overshadowed by Rice, and brought Onguene into the
match. The coach thought that Onguene, who had not got the chance to show
what he could do against Brazil, deserved the possibility. And it couldn't
get worse anyway. For Northern Ireland ten minutes into the second half Jim
McIllroy substituted no-show Armstrong and the match finally came to action.
And only minutes later Northern Ireland got the first goal on the
scoresheet. Sammy McIllroy dribbled past Geremi and beautifully got the ball
to Best who suddenly woke up. He rounded Wome and McParland arrived in the
box to fire home past N'Kono who had hardly touched the ball until that
moment: 0-1. It was hard to say whether it was deserved or not. In fact,
neither of the teams had deserved a point until then, let alone a win.
Cameroon now fought for their last chance. It was do or die for the
Africans. But Milla couldn't put himself through against mighty McCracken
who was an expert using the off-sidetrap too. Milla and his teammates got
caught by it at least ten times. Pat Rice, who had played Mboma out of the
match, also had no problems dominating Onguene. Only Francois Omam-Biyik
from time to time was a threat for Northern Ireland. If Cameroon would
score, it would have to come from him. And so it happened. After Jennings
had saved a shot from Geremi, a set piece situation - not very surprising -
did the damage. Abega sent a corner kick sharply at the first post.
Omam-Biyik arrived earlier than his marker Nelson and blasted it in with a
thunderous header: 1-1 with 20 minutes to go, a fantastic goal, almost out
of tune for this match.
Both teams couldn't settle for a draw but it looked as if Cameroon were very
satisfied with this result. They played as if the world title was within
their reach with 1-1. They didn't take any initiative, defending with all
they had. Northern Ireland, though never convincing, at least tried to make
the most out of it and got their reward. Minutes from time, with no chance
to recover for Cameroon, and Jimmy McIllroy did it. The shot came from a
distance, it seemed to be stoppable. But N'Kono couldn't, the shot went just
under the bar and in: 1-2. Of course the Irish didn't squander this lead.
Cameroon bowed their heads and surrendered. They had nothing to complain
about. Northern Ireland preserved their chances to qualify but still had to
beat Brazil to keep sight on the second round. The way they had played
against Cameroon left little hope. Cameroon had to beat Portugal by a
monstreous score and hope for a Brazil win against Northern Ireland. The
latter seemed no problem, a Cameroon win much more.
In Berne, next Tuesday a big match-up between Scotland and Czechoslovakia is
coming up in group B. Scotland lost their first match against Yugoslavia and
desparately need the three points. Coach Jock Stein has huge potential up
front with Dalglish, Law, Gallacher, Morton, McCoist and Jackson and must
make a big decision here. Alex James is likely to start in midfield to serve
the guns in the frontline. Czechoslovakia lost their goalkeeper Planicka
with a broken arm but replacement Viktor did very well against Bulgaria
which match they won, 1-0 in the last minute. They could play for a draw but
that still leaves them in the uncomfortable situation to need a result
against Yugoslavia. Though the Czechs and Yugoslavia started very well,
nothing is decided yet in this very even group. A tight combat is expected
and Ivan Eklind is the man to separate the two sides.
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