Cameroon stage incredible comeback in 6-goal thriller with Serbia. Jean-Charles Castelletto opened the scoring in the 29th minute for Cameroon after Serbia’s Aleksandr Mitrovic hit the post in the match’s early stages.
Two quickfire goals from Strahinja Pavlovic and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic just before the break saw Serbia head into half-time in the lead. Mitrovic then added a third in the 53rd minute as Serbia appeared to be in cruise control.
Cameroon then staged a second-half comeback after newly introduced Vincent Aboubakar in the 64th minute scored an outrageous lob that was initially ruled offside until VAR intervened.
Just two minutes later, Aboubakar drove down the right and passed it to Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting who equalised.
Vincent Aboubakar sparked a stunning second-half comeback as Cameroon avoided what would have been a record-equalling World Cup defeat against Serbia.
The experienced striker came off the bench with the Indomitable Lions trailing 3-1 and staring a ninth successive defeat in the competition, going back to 2002, in the face.
But Aboubakar lobbed Serbia keeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic to make it 3-2 before squaring for Eric-Maxim Choupo-Moting to fire home the equalizer two minutes later.
Cameroon, who lost 1-0 against Switzerland in their opener, took the lead in the 29th minute when Jean-Charles Castelletto touched home a flick-on from a corner.
But Serbia, beaten 2-0 by title favourites Brazil in their first match, hit back strongly with two goals in time added on at the end of the first half.
First Strahinja Pavlovic headed home a free-kick before Sergej Milinkovic-Savic drilled a low left-foot shot into the right corner two minutes later.
Aleksandar Mitrovic, who had earlier hit the post and wasted two more chances, increased Serbia’s lead with his 51st international goal but the Fulham striker couldn’t salvage victory late on as he curled another effort wide.
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.
1H | 2H | Final | |
Cameroon | 1 | 2 | 3 |
Serbia | 2 | 1 | 3 |
Goals:
29th min – CAM – Jean-Charles Castelletto
45th min+1 – SER – Strahinja Pavlovic
45th min+3 – SER – Sergej Milinkovic-Savic
53rd min – SER – Aleksandar Mitrovic
64th min – CAM – Vincent Aboubakar
66th min – CAM – Eric-Maxim Choupo-Moting
Confirmed lineups:
Cameroon (4-3-3, right to left): 16. Epassy (GK) — 19. Fai, 21. Castelletto, 3. N’Koulou, 25. Tolo — 18. Hongla 15. Kunde, 8. Anguissa — 20. Mbeumo, 12. Ekambi 13. Choupo-Moting
Serbia (3-5-1-1, right to left): 23. V. Milinkovic-Savic (GK) — 5. Veljkovic, 4. Milenkovic, 2. Pavlovic — 14. Zivkovic, 16. Lukic, 6. Maksimovic, 20. S. Milinkovic-Savic, 17. Kostic — 10. Tadic — 9. A. Mitrovic
Courtesy AJNM and Sporting news
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