Cameroon 1 Brazil 0: Aboubakar SENT OFF for goal celebration as Africans stun World Cup favourites’ sloppy second-string
IN a World Cup of shocks how about this for the greatest one of all.
Cameroon, tiny, no-hope Cameroon, have beaten the five-time champions and red-hot favourites to lift the trophy.
GettyVincent Aboubakar celebrates his winner[/caption]
GettyHe was then shown a second yellow card and sent off[/caption]
Vincent Aboubakar’s out-of-the-blue header deep into stoppage time gave the Indomitable Lions not only the greatest night in their history but one of the biggest surprises in football history.
It wasn’t enough to take them through and it wasn’t enough to send Brazil crashing. Not out of the tournament, at least.
But it was certainly enough to send shock waves across the planet, as Aboubakar arrived to nod into the corner past a leaden-footed Ederson and stun even his own fans.
The Cameroon skipper took his shirt off to show to the supporters in celebration – and promptly got a second yellow for his trouble.
But that wasn’t going to wreck a night he, Samuel Eto’o, Rigobert Song or anyone from Cameroon will ever, ever forget.
How ironic, too, given Aboubakar had been having a nightmare to that point. Just like the rest of the crowd who had to sit and suffer through a turgid evening.
Hot favourites they may be, but it was a horrible night for Brazil. Although no hint it would end in the most horrible way of all.
It certainly puts England’s goalless performance against the States into perspective, too.
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When the biggest cheers from their fans come when Neymar, recovered from fever enough to watch from the stands, flashes up on the big screen, you know it’s been one to forget.
Brazil’s golden boy is on course to come back from his damaged ankle ligaments and play at least some part in Monday’s last 16 tie with South Korea.
They could certainly do with an injection of life because to be honest the favourites have been pretty flat for two in a row now.
First, they huffed and puffed before finally finding a way to edge past the Swiss. Now this, total embarrassment against a side who, even at anything but full strength, they should have blown away.
They can’t say they hadn’t been warned either, because Ederson had already had to produce one stunning save to deny Bryan Mbeumo. What a story that would have been for the Brentford striker.
Bruno Guimaraes after the 1-0 loss to CameroonRichard Pelham / The Sun
GettyCameroon goalie Devis Epassy holds the Man of the Match award[/caption]
ReutersNeymar consoles Gabriel Jesus after the loss[/caption]
Yet for the most part, it was effectively a game of attack versus defence, with Brazil doing the former. Only not in a very clinical fashion.
Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli, one of a raft of “second stringers” given a chance by Tite, was the liveliest of them all.
He could have scored with an early header that drew a fine stop from keeper Devis Epassy, while Anthony, Rodrygo and Gabriel Jesus also blew great openings.
The Cameroon keeper is only in the team because first-choice Andre Onana is back home after a row with boss Rigobert Song.
Last night was very much a case of they shall not Epassy, and at least he will look back on this game as the most memorable night of his life.
Not many others at the Lusail Stadium will, though, to be honest. For once a ticket that is usually the hottest in town was no more than lukewarm.
For Brazil, in the end it was positively freezing. You never know, perhaps England have a chance of winning this thing after all…
