Cameroon vs Saudi Arabia - 2002 World Cup Group Match

Home: World Cup 2002: Korea-Japan Finals: 1st Round: Match Report

Thursday June 6th, 2002

Cameroon vs Saudi Arabia in Saitama (1:0)

Saudi Arabia Are Out

Straight from the kick-off, Daniel Ngom Kome made a run into the Saudi area and smiled when the referee from Norway turned down his penalty appeal.

Another drum rhythm beats its support for the African team. Cameroon started strong, as was to be expected, as they tried to bring back Germany's goal differential.

Obaid Al Dosari proved too quick, up front for Saudi Arabia, and was called back for offside.

Al Dosari again showed that Saudi Arabia were not to be underestimated; as he glanced his header narrowly over the Cameroon bar, with less than 10 minutes on the clock.

Obaid Al Dosari was again caught offside as he collected a long-ball on his chest during a forward in the 20th minute.

By playing long balls up to lone striker Obaid Al Dosari, the Saudis have managed to cover better at the back and frustrate Cameroon.

With half an hour gone, the best clear chance for Cameroon was headed wide of the left post, by Geremi.

Then bad news struck for Saudi Arabia in the 33rd minute, as Obaid Al Dosari was stretchered off; after falling awkwardly and twisting his knee. The big target man was replaced by a much smaller Al Hassan Al Yami.

Saudi Arabia continued to play fast and direct with Al Hassan Al Yami tapping the ball through to Nawaf Al Temyat; who managed to get behind Raymond Kalla and Rigobert Song, only to slip the ball wide.

Then in the closing minute, Geremi headed the ball in for Cameroon - the second goal disallowed for offside.

Half-time: Cameroon 0 - Saudi Arabia 0

At the start of the second-half, Geremi crossed into Lauren and Mohammed Al Daeyea needed a second a second attempt to collect the Arsenal player's shot.

On Cameroon's next attack, Samuel Eto'o hit the ball skywards from inside the area.

Less than a minute later Eto'o was again in the action, stumbling and falling on Al Daeyea's head. The reserve keeper stood up from the bench and stretched his neck but wasn't needed as a replacement.

Cameroon started to look the more dangerous of the two sides as Rigobert Song steamed into the Saudi area like a train.

Saudi Arabia still showed swiftness on the counter, although their finishing continued to fail them too.

Nawaf Al Temyat ran through the Cameroon half, with two against four. Boukar Alioum couldn't hold the shot and when Al Hassan Al Yami faked a trip, while trying to follow-up, he was booked for his trouble.

1:0
Samuel Eto'o finally broke the deadlock in the 65th minute, by getting onto a long pass from Geremi.

Abdel Aziz al-Khathran won a free-kick on the edge of the Cameroon area when he was seemingly tripped by Salomon Olembe. Saudi Arabia replaced Abdullah Zubromawi with Abdullah Jumaan Al Dosari - his first job to take the free-kick; which he curled into the wall.

Although Saudi Arabia tried to look for the equaliser, this defeat means the game against Ireland is meaningless for Saudi Arabia and they will have their bags packed as soon as it's over.

With Cameroon and Germany on four points, Saudi Arabia are definitely out.

Final Score:
Cameroon 1 - Saudi Arabia 0

Man of the Match:
Obaid Al Dosari could well have been the player of the match if he hadn't fell so awkwardly in the 20th minute.

Yellow Cards:
Pierrre Wome (10 mins)
Al Hassan Al Yami (59 mins)

The Teams

Cameroon:
1 Boukar Alioum; 5 Raymond Kalla Kongo, 8 Geremi Njitap, 4 Rigobert Song, 2 Bill Tchato, 3 Pierrre Wome (6 Pierre Njanka - 84 mins); 12 Lauren Etame-Mayer, 17 Marc-Vivien Foe, 23 Daniel Ngom Kome (20 Salomon Olembe - 46 mins); 9 Samuel Eto'o, 10 Patrick Mboma (11 Pius Ndiefi - 74 mins).

Saudi Arabia:
1 Mohammed Al Daeyea; 2 Mohammed Al Jahani, 6 Fouzi Al Shahri, 13 Hussein Sulimani, 3 Raza Takar, 4 Abdullah Zubromawi (15 Abdullah Jumaan Al Dosari - 72 mins); 17 Abdullah Al Shahrani, 7 Ibrahim Al Shahrani, 18 Nawaf Al Temyat, 14 Abdel Aziz al-Khathran (8 Mohammed Noor - 84 mins), 11 Obaid Al Dosari (20 Al Hassan Al Yami - 35 mins).

Referee: Terje Hauge