Changing lead, six goals and a lot of excitement: Cameroon and Serbia got their first point at the 2022 World Cup. The trembling continues for both teams.
Cameroon and Serbia are still waiting for their first victory at the World Cup in Qatar after a 3:3 (1:3). Both teams were leading in the game on Monday (11/28/2022), but in the end they only managed to get one point each. In the decisive game for the round of 16 qualification, Cameroon now has to play against Brazil on Friday (December 2nd, 2022), Serbia plays against Switzerland.
The goals in the six-goal game came from Jean-Charles Castelletto (29′), Vincent Aboubakar (64′) and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting (66′) for Cameroon. Strahina Pavlovic (45th + 1st), Sergej Milinkovic-Savic (45th + 3rd) and Aleksandar Mitrovic (53rd) scored for the 1930 World Cup semifinalists.
Serbia under pressure when Kostic returns
The team of Serbian coach Dragan Stojkovic had every chance of victory and an early preliminary decision for the Europeans. The “White Eagles”, in which the recovered ex-Frankfurter Filip Kostic returned to the team, determined the game from the start, put the deep-seated Cameroonians under pressure and exploited uncertainties in the Africans’ defence. Serbia let the ball flow and kept creating gaps in Cameroon’s defence.
Mitrovic to the post
Aleksandar Mitrovic had the first big chances on the foot, he hit the right post from an acute angle (11th). Shortly thereafter, the Premier League attacker (Fulham FC) missed the next top-class goal: he shot wide from ten meters (16′).
Cameroon keeper suspended
Cameroon, who suspended goalkeeper André Onana shortly before the game for disciplinary reasons and started the game with substitute keeper Devis Epassy, only broke up their basic defensive structure somewhat from the middle of the first half. Against the defensively also very vulnerable Serbs, this immediately brought a goal threat. After a counterattack, Pierre Kunde had the lead on his feet, but Serbia’s goalkeeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic defused the shot (19′).
Cameroon lead – Serbia strikes back
Cameroon’s lead fell after a corner kick – against the physically largest team in the World Cup. After a header from Nicolas N’Koulou, Jean-Charles Castelletto was able to slot in at the far post (29′). Serbia threw everything forward and was rewarded in the first half. After a free kick, Strahina Pavlovic headed beautifully into the top right corner (45′ + 1′), Sergej Milinkovic-Savic hit the bottom left with a low shot from 20 meters (45′ + 3′).
Charles Castelletto scores to make Cameroon 1-0 against Serbia
Mitrovic meets – Serbia on the road to victory
When Aleksandar Mitrovic increased the lead to 3-1 (53 ‘) shortly after the substitution and after a nice counter-attack, everything looked like a clear victory for Serbia. The Europeans had the game under control in this phase, Cameroon acted too timidly.
Sergej Milinkovic-Savic (right) celebrates his goal for Serbia against Cameroon
Double strike brings Cameroon back
But a double strike and two poorly placed Serbian offside traps suddenly brought Cameroon back into the game. Vincent Aboubakar with a remarkable lob (64th) and Bayern Munich attacker Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting free-standing from eight meters (66th) equalized to 3: 3.
Kostic and Mitrovic award Serbian victory
After the two goals conceded, Serbia immediately took command again – and would have deserved the win. With the best chances, Filip Kostic (88th) and Aleksandar Mitrovic failed to Cameroon keeper Devis Epassy (90th + 1st). So it stayed at a 3:3, which after the meanwhile 3:1 lead of the Serbs probably nobody had believed anymore.
Cameroon and Serbia need a win now
In Group G, Cameroon and Serbia are third and fourth, each with one point. After Cameroon’s 1-0 defeat by Switzerland and Serbia’s 2-0 loss by Brazil, both teams now need to win in the last matchday to have a chance of reaching the round of 16.