Cameroon scored an injury-time winner to shock tournament favourites Brazil and secure a famous 1-0 win that will go down in history, even if it didn’t quite get them through to the last 16.
Vincent Aboubakar scored a wonderful header on the 92 minute after a simply wonderful cross from Karl Louis Brillant Toko Ekambi. Yes that is his first name, and yes he lived up to it here. Aboubakar was shown a second yellow card having removed his shirt in gleeful celebration as Cameroon became the first African side to beat Brazil at a World Cup but ultimately, Switzerland’s 3-2 win over Serbia meant that it wasn’t enough.
Brazil top the group, but their second string couldn’t find the net against this inspired African outfit. 39-year-old Dani Alves got himself a slice of history as he became the oldest ever World Cup player for Brazil when he led out his nation.
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The most decorated footballer of all time, with 43 trophies to his name, put himself in the record books, less than six months before he celebrates the big 4-0. It was a night of changes for Tite’s Brazil, who used this final group game with Cameroon to take a look at his squad.
He made nine changes, as a new-look front four attempted to torment the opposition. The oft-criticised Gabreil Jesus led the line, while Antony, Gabriel Martinelli and Rodrygo all competed to put their name at the front of the list should Neymar miss the last 16 clash against South Korea.
Off the quartet, Martinelli shone the brightest and is now surely top dog to come in for Neymar, should his injury be more serious than his coaching staff are letting on. The Arsenal man was Brazil’s biggest threat for the entire net, and although he failed to get on the scoresheet, he was a thorn in Cameroon’s side.
First, he rose highest to meet a cross with his head, but Devis Epassy managed to athletically tip the ball over the bar from close range. But it wasn’t all one-way traffic for the tournament favourites. Bryan Mbuemo got his head to a cross and Ederson pawed away the first shot on target Brazil have had to face at this World Cup.
In the second half, Martinelli tried again. He found space on that left hand side but was once again denied by a diving save from Epassy after curling one towards the top corner. Then, Eder Militao saw his close range effort spilled by the goalkeeper but he managed to claw it away at the second attempt as the shots rained in. Next it was Antony who was denied, as Cameroon continued to frustrate this second string Brazilian outfit.
✅ Get the winner against Brazil in injury time
✅ Get a red card for taking your shirt off to celebrate
#ITVFootball | #FIFAWorldCup
Gabriel Jesus was subbed having failed to score his elusive World Cup goal while Alex Telles was taken off injured and looks like he could be out for a while, but Alex Sandro is the number one choice at left-back. Bruno Guimares impressed off the bench but couldn’t saw his shot blocked from inside the six-yard box, before Cameroon came back and pushed for a late winner.
Aboubakar’s header was the first goal Brazil have conceded this year, and this defeat could take the wind out of their sails, although their potential route to the final has certainly opened up. They now face South Korea in the last 16, and then the winners of Japan or Croatia. Routes to the final four don’t come much simpler than that on paper, and importantly, with a potential semi-final against Argentina, Brazil would avoid European big boys.
Since they last won the trophy in 2002, they’ve only been knocked out by European teams. France, the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium have all taken the big scalp in recent tournaments and this time Tite’s men could reach the final without playing any European side.
They’d probably have to overcome one of the big guns in the final, but their route is by far the simplest of the big guns. This defeat is unlikely to damage them in the long run, and anything less than a final appearance and the trophy, would be seen as a disaster for this squad.
