Cameroon rallied from two goals to defeat Serbia 3-3 on Monday afternoon at Al Janoub Stadium in a World Cup 2022 Group G fixture.
Vincent Aboubakar played a key role off the bench for the Indomitable Lions in an exciting encounter, with the aim of keeping the African team in contention for the round of 16, although they will need to beat Brazil on Friday to have any hope of advancing.
Serbia made the first run in attack and came within inches of taking the lead on 11 minutes, with Aleksandar Mitrovic hitting the post with a left-footed effort after a clever spin near the baseline.
The Fulham striker then missed a great chance on 17 minutes, dragging a deflected right-footed shot from close range after a cross had comically passed between three Cameroon defenders.
Two minutes later, the Indomitable Lions had their first scoring threat, Pierre Kunde’s powerful shot down the right ending with a volley deflected to a corner by goalkeeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic.
And the African team broke the tie on 29 minutes with a beautifully executed set piece: Kunde’s corner kick was finished off by Nicolas N’Koulou and Jean-Charles Castelletto hit the far post to score his first international goal from close range. . .
The Lions appeared to be in control as the game headed into halftime, but the Eagles turned things around in dramatic style with two stoppage-time strikes.
First, Strahinja Pavlovic hammered home a Dusan Tadic free-kick and headed in a superb header to make it 1-1 in the first minute of added time.
Just two minutes later, Serbia claimed the lead as possession was won high up the pitch before Sergej Milinkovic-Savic scored a left-footed kick from the edge of the penalty area to see the European team up 2-1 in the match. break.
And the Serbs needed just eight second-half minutes to extend their lead to 3-1, as they again stole possession in the Cameroon half and executed a fine passing move before Andrija Zivkovic helped Mitrovic tap into a net. empty.
The Indomitable Lions returned to the game through substitute forward Vincent Aboubakar, who ran into Casteletto’s pass, missed a challenge and then nonchalantly flicked the ball past the keeper and into the net in the 64th minute.
The offside flag initially ruled the goal out, but a VAR review showed Cameroom’s number 10 was in fact onside and the goal was reset for 3–2.
And it became 3-3 on 66 minutes when Aboubakar ran for another through ball and squared for Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting to finish from close range to level the thriller on three goals apiece.
Both teams had halved chances to break the tie in the remainder of the match, with Cameroon certainly showing more energy and intent, though Serbia came closest with Mitrovic’s 88th-minute shot going wide of target.
