Mexico edge Cameroon for crucial opening Group A win

    The second match of the 2014 FIFA World Cup featured CONCACAF Powerhouse Mexico facing off against African Giants Cameroon in the second Group A encounter at the Estadio das Dunas in Natal. It was the third consecutive World Cup in which the Mexicans have faced African opposition. The West Africans were trying to erase bad memories of South Africa 2010 when they were the first team eliminated after losing all three group games. The Mexicans were trying to continue flying the flag of CONCACAF high, as they had made at least the last sixteen in their last five World Cup appearances. It was Mexico who had the first real shot at goal with Layun seeing his somewhat weak effort saved by the Cameroonian goalkeeper Intanjde in the 7^th minute. The Mexicans did have the ball in the back of the net soon though in the 11^th minute, but Dos Santos was ruled offside and Cameroon survived. The Cameroonians would also score in the 16^th minute but that too was ruled offside. In the 21^st minute Assou Ekotto fed Eto’o a great ball but the Cameroon captain fired just wide.

     The rain started pouring down at this point. The Mexicans then got a corner in the 30^th and Dos Santos once again thought that he had given his team the lead, only for it to be ruled offside by the referee’s assistant. Just before halftime the Mexicans got another corner but Peralta’s effort went wide. He was also ruled to be offside. At halftime the score was deadlocked at 0-0 with both teams perhaps having the feeling that they were unfairly treated after having goals disallowed. At the start of the second half the rains had subsided a bit but both teams still struggled to get any real hold on the game. In the 57^th minute Moreno became the first player to go in the referee’s book after taking down Mbia.  The resulting free kick was wasted though, and the Mexicans survived. Mexico however, would finally score a legitimate goal as Peralta gave them the lead in the 61^st minute. They still continued to dominate possession from then on. Cameroon became desperate for an equalizer and Webo was replaced by Song in the 79^th minute to try to bring the West Africans back on level terms. In the 85^th the Mexicans were forced into a crucial clearance as Moukandjo’s cross gave the Mexican defense some problems. Luckily for them danger was averted.

     

In stoppage time Ochoa was forced to make a crucial save from a Cameroonian header. Then the Mexicans had a chance to put the game out of reach but Hernandez fired too high. Cameroon was desperate to find the equalizer, but the CONCACAF giants held on for the win and full points. It was their first win over African opposition.  A win which could prove to be very crucial to their progression to the second round.