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| April 22nd 2005 |
Montevideo, Estadio Centenario
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| PORTUGAL - CAMEROON |
3-1 (2-1)
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GOALS 3' 1-0 Luis Filipe Figo
9' 1-1 Roger Milla
11' 2-1 José Torres
87' 3-1 Eusebio
REFEREE John Langenus (Belgium)
ATTENDANCE 58,000
YELLOW CARDS Couto (POR) - Song, Onana, Lauren, Kalla (CMR)
RED CARDS Lauren (CMR)
PORTUGAL (Coach: Otto Gloria, system 4-3-3)
1 Alberto Costa Pereira
2 Joao Pinto
3 Fernando Couto
4 José Germano
5 Toni
15 Jaime Graca
10 Manuel Rui Costa (-58)
11 Mario Coluna (captain)
8 Eusebio
9 José Torres (-88)
7 Luis Filipe Figo (-83)
Substitutes:
19 Jaime Pacheco (+58)
13 Antonio Simoes (+83)
17 Fernando Peyroteo (+88)
CAMEROON (Coach: Valeri Nepomniaschi, system 4-3-3)
1 Thomas N'Kono
2 Stephen Tataw
14 Jules Onana
6 Emmanuel Kunde (captain)
4 Rigobert Song (-42)
18 Lauren Etamé-Mayer
20 Patrick Mboma (-65)
11 Theophile Abega
7 Francois Omam-Biyik
9 Roger Milla
10 Jean-Manga Onguene (-46)
Substitutes:
3 Pierre Wome (+42)
16 Samuel Eto'o (+46)
5 Raymond Kalla (+65)
MATCHREPORT
Cameroon needed a big win against Portugal to grant themselves at least a
little chance of making it to the last 16. They started the match with a
team of offensive composition, but barely 10 minutes were over when it had
become clear that Cameroon were never going to fulfil their task.
In the 3rd minute Thomas N'Kono made an unbelievable mistake. A cross from
Coluna slipped through his hands and Figo had to do nothing more than touch
it to get it over the line. And however the Africans seemed unshocked and
came back quickly, they were never able to score 5 or 6 goals against this
solid Portuguese team. The equalizer was scored only 6 minutes after Figo's
opener. Milla headed it in from a Lauren cross. Couto misjudged it, it
bounced back from Germano and Milla came in to score: 1-1 with just 9
minutes gone. It promised a lot. Cameroon had hopes for a stunt but only 3
minutes later got a new setback. And again it came from the wing. Figo had
no problem passing Song and served Torres, who lept high above Onana and let
N'Kono no chance this time: 2-1, and that closed the door for Cameroon.
Coach Nepomniaschi, who had to replace Geremi because of his suspension, had
Song back in the line-up instead of Wome and dropped Mboma one line to make
place for Onguene, who had played in both the earlier matches but hadn't
been able to impress. The Russian coach had hoped for one or two early
strikes to overpower Portugal, but it was never to be. Portugal had to leave
out slightly injured Simoes and Gloria this time played with only three
strikers, where he had four in the team against Northern Ireland and Brazil.
Graca came in as midfielder to make sure that there would be just a little
more balance. After the second goal the game came to rest. Cameroon knew
that a win could be possible but that it would never be big enough to throw
Portugal out of the competition. Both teams played without taking too many
risks and the result was a lacklustre game now. The only real important
things was a terrible foul from Song on Figo. While referee Langenus drew
nothing more than a yellow card, Nepomiaschi took his responsibility and
immediately took the incorrigible defender off. Song had been sent off
against Brazil and the coach wouldn't take the risk of again having to play
with just ten men. Pierre Wome was brought in.
During the break Nepomniaschi made a second change and took Onguene, again
invisible, off for Eto'o. It remained a rippling game without too many
exciting moments. Until the moment when Couto and Onana got into a row after
an aerial battle. There was some pushing, players came between and just
before it threatened to become a bench-clearing brawl, Langenus tried to
prevent it by showing yellow cards to Couto and Onana. The game however
deteriorated now and it resulted in a red card for Lauren, who - with a
yellow card to his credit - fouled Eusebio from behind. From the 66th
minute, Portugal had one man extra on the pitch. But possession of the ball
remained their biggest goal and with Lauren off it was even easier than
before, of course.
Talking about Eusebio, the spectactors hadn't seen too much of Portugal's
big star until then. But when time went by, Cameroon were running out of
steam and a third Portugese goal wasn't to be denied. And it was Eusebio
who scored, after picking it up from substitute Pacheco, running past Tataw
and Kunde, and putting it easily behind N'Kono in the net: 3-1, the
finishing stroke in the game. For Eusebio it was his fourth goal in the
tournament and the sole leader's position in the scoring charts. One of the
very few highlights in a game that had started very spectacular, but just
because of that had lost much of its tension right away.
Next Tuesday the decision in the very tight group B. Bulgaria and Scotland
meet in Stockholm under refereeing of Georges Capdeville. Both teams need to
win but are not complete. Hristo Stoichkov, Bulgaria's biggest star, is
suspended as well as Scotland's Billy Bremner, also cautioned twice before.
In the Stadio Olimpico in Rome Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia meet in another
match that is difficult to predict. Here suspensions for Karol Dobias and
Pavel Nedved for the Czechs. Coach Vytlacil is expected to make some changes
in the front line. Yugoslavia will have to replace stopper Katalinski and
midfielder Stojkovic. Ivan Horvat and Jovan Acimovic are likely to take
their places. Sergio Gonella is the referee here. Yugoslavia need a draw,
the Czechs a win to be sure. Who will make it to the next stage? Read it
next week!
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