
<h4>Cameroon defeat Brazil thanks to Aboubakar’s goal</h4>



<p>For a long time, it looked like Brazil’s second team would go on to beat a fiery Cameroon side. United midfielder Fred was the catalyst for many of Brazil’s chance, sending numerous shots and crosses to the Cameroonian net.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Brazil gets its first big chance but Epassy makes the save 😤🔒 <a href="https:\/\/t.co/3iGDlmdVTG">pic.twitter.com/3iGDlmdVTG</a></p>— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) <a href="https:\/\/twitter.com/FOXSoccer/status/1598758019189309478?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 2, 2022</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https:\/\/platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



<p>Gabriel Martinelli was also a huge problem for Cameroon in the first half. The Arsenal star pushed Napoli’s Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa and Al Taee’s Collins Fai to superhuman defending performances. </p>



<p>Brentford winger Bryan Mbeumo’s header nearly put Cameroon up, if not for an amazing Ederson save. It was the first shot on target that Brazil had to face in the entire group stage. Yet Cameroon had to wait again for another great opportunity.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Wow 😳<br><br>What a SAVE by Ederson 🔥 <a href="https:\/\/t.co/yd5qVb7Oj1">pic.twitter.com/yd5qVb7Oj1</a></p>— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) <a href="https:\/\/twitter.com/FOXSoccer/status/1598766688480075776?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 2, 2022</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https:\/\/platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<p>Yet most of the half was the same old storyline. <em>La Seleçao </em>was the team attacking, and Cameroon hung on for dear life. </p>



<p>Most of the second half turned into a <em>How many chances can Brazil miss</em> competition. There was Antony’s edge-of-the-box screamer that Epassy tipped away, and Epassy strained to tip an Éder Militão effort onto the post. </p>



<p>Things got even worse with the appearance of Marquinhos, Bruno Guimaraes, and Raphinha. It took some Herculean efforts from Cameroon’s defense and Epassy to keep the game level. Cameroon fans were not praying for a win and a draw between Serbia and Switzerland. They were praying that their probable loss against Brazil would be slim.</p>



<h4>All hail Aboubakar</h4>



<p>However, Cameroon got an unexpected boost in the 92nd minute. The Champion of Cameroon, the Epitome of Effectiveness, and Yaounde’s Hero: <a href="https:\/\/www.transfermarkt.us/vincent-aboubakar/profil/spieler/147487" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Vincent Aboubakar</a> saved the Indomitable Lions yet again. </p>



<p>Homegrown talent Jerome Mbekeli strode towards the wing and sent in a perfect cross to a heavily-marked Aboubakar. The Al-Nassr striker sprinted into the box, muscled off two defenders, and hit a header past a frozen Ederson. He screamed, took his shirt off, left it behind, and headed towards the dugout. He faced his teammates with a stunned but proud look on his face. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">CAMEROON SCORES 😱🇨🇲 <a href="https:\/\/t.co/dvrY004pK3">pic.twitter.com/dvrY004pK3</a></p>— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) <a href="https:\/\/twitter.com/FOXSoccer/status/1598782518018408450?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 2, 2022</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https:\/\/platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<p>Although taking off his shirt earned Aboubakar his second yellow card, it won Cameroon the game. The stoppage-time winner gave Cameroon its fourth point in Qatar. Sadly, Serbia could not draw Switzerland at the death, meaning that Switzerland would get second place and a match against Portugal.</p>



<h4>Epassy impresses in front of Brazil’s attack</h4>



<p>Devis Epassy is <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/news/cameroon-suspends-andre-onana-through-world-cup-20221129-WST-410445.html">no Andre Onana</a>. Yet in front of 85,000+ fans expecting to see a one-sided slaugher, Epassy put in the performance of his life. He had seven saves and 52 touches. The Abha keeper faced 21 shots and 2.25 xG, but he amazingly kept a clean sheet.</p>



<p>He rebounded impressively after conceding three goals to Serbia on just 1.9 xG, and showed a level of maturity you would not expect from someone who just earned his sixth cap for Cameroon.</p>



<p>As the bridge between Onana and Cameroon continues to grow, Epassy can expect some increased minutes going into 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying.</p>



<p><em>Photo credit: IMAGO / Xinhua</em></p>


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<a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/world-cup-tv-schedule/"><strong>TV Schedule:</strong></a> All the info on <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/world-cup-tv-schedule/">where and when to watch</a> every game
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Cameroon defeat Brazil in their first defeat since July 2021. How did the Indomitable Lions do it, but still get grouped?

Cameroon defeat Brazil in memorable ending at World Cup - World Soccer Talk

Cameroon defeat Brazil in memorable ending at World Cup


<p>Cameroon was winning. Then, it was losing. Then, it was winning again. The 3-3 shootout was a rollercoaster of emotions, to say the least. There were 28 total shots, four yellow cards and some of the biggest drama of the World Cup.</p>



<p>It began with Jean-Charles Castellano’s 29th-minute strike to give Cameroon an early lead. Olympiacos midfielder Pierre Kunde sent a big corner towards a huge horde of players. Somehow, the ball made its way to an unmarked Castellano, who tapped in the game’s first goal.</p>



<p>The <em>Indomitable Lions</em>‘ lead did not last long. Serbia’s Strahinja Pavlović&nbsp;lost Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa on a Dušan Tadić free kick and knocked a header past goalkeeper Devis Epassy. Serbia doubled their goal count with Andrija Živković’s calculated pass to Sergej Milinković-Savić, who sent a weak shot past Epassy just before halftime ended.</p>



<p>Serbia looked like it would kill the game following a passing sequence that looked like they were just toying with their prey. Tadić dribbled down the box before laying it off to Aleksandar Mitrović, who switched to Milinković-Savić. The Lazio man beat a defender before passing to Živković, who found Mitrović, and his second assist of the day, right in front of the goal.</p>



<h2>Attack carries Cameroon to key 3-3 draw against Serbia</h2>



<p>Vincent Aboubakar’s appearance in the 64th minute changed everything. Castelletto launched a long ball that Aboubakar latched onto. He beat a Serbian defender at the edge of the box off a counter-attack, dragged the ball back, and sent an impeccable chip over Vanja Milinković-Savić to make the game 2-3 for Cameroon.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">WHAT A CHIP 🔥<br><br>After a VAR check, the goal stands and Cameroon takes one back! 🇨🇲 <a href="https:\/\/t.co/2zwCtckDjW">pic.twitter.com/2zwCtckDjW</a></p>— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) <a href="https:\/\/twitter.com/FOXSoccer/status/1597191379016306688?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 28, 2022</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https:\/\/platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



<p>Again striking off a counter-attack just two minutes, Aboubakar threatened goal on the right flank. His proximity to the goal and free space all around him forced the sole defender to mark him. The Al-Nassr striker then switched the ball back to Choupo-Moting, who scored to make the game 3-3.</p>



<p>Although Mitrovic nearly scored several times to give the game its seventh(!!) goal, Cameroon clung on to its sole point. Although impressive, the draw puts Cameroon at a massive disadvantage. Cameroon now needs a win against Brazil and favorable results from the Serbia-Switzerland game to have any chance of moving to the knockout round.</p>



<h5>Onana out of the squad</h5>



<p>Andre Onana was the <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/news/cameroon-faces-biggest-test-in-decades-at-the-world-cup-20221116-WST-408335.html">key player for Cameroon’s squad</a>; the engine that could the Indomitable Lions roar. So it was very surprising when news came out that Onana left Qatar and dropped out of the team. Onana is dedicated to the team; he has over 34 caps and led Cameroon to third place at AFCON. So why would he drop out?</p>



<p>Renowned source Fabrizio Romano reported that manager Rigobert Song <a href="https:\/\/twitter.com/FabrizioRomano/status/1597156627094069248" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">kicked Onana out of the starting lineup</a> due to his sweeper-keeper style of play. He protested, and Song fired back with an indefinite suspension from the national team until he agreed to change his playstyle. But that’s the thing; Onana is known for his involvement in defense. He makes his name off of his high amount of touches. So, he dropped out, and Song started Epassy.</p>



<p>Of course, we know how it turned out. Defensive blunders turned to offensive brilliance helped save the day and prevent elimination for Cameroon, but some may feel that with the Inter stopper, Cameroon would win the game.</p>



<p>You can only guess how Cameroon’s game with Brazil will go without Onana. There is always the possibility of a shock upset like Cameroon almost pulled off against Serbia. But, without the shot-stopping Song has come to expect, Cameroon will surely have a rough time.</p>



<h5>Aboubakar makes his case for a starting spot</h5>



<p>Where one player leaves, another steps up.</p>



<p>Why did Song bench Aboubakar? Why isn’t he playing the full 90? Vincent Aboubakar gave both questions life when he scored once and assisted once to turn the Cameroon game against Serbia on its head. </p>



<p>His decision to leave Aboubakar on the bench is questionable to say the least, especially as Aboubakar played a key role in Cameroon’s AFCON and World Cup qualifying campaigns. He also brings something that Cameroon desperately need: an aerial presence. He holds up the ball, converts big chances and gives Cameroon an extra layer of offense. </p>



<p>Not starting Aboubakar before was disagreeable. He is a key player, experienced and, although aging, is still a proficient goal-scorer. Now, benching Aboubakar is foolish. He just scored a goal and assisted for Cameroon in a crucial game the minute he stepped on the field. How could you not try to replicate that in Thursday’s game with Brazil?</p>



<p>Aboubakar should start next game for Cameroon due to his impressive performance against Serbia. Yet, the Indomitable Lions need another masterclass from the vetted forward.</p>



<p><em>PHOTO: IMAGO / Agencia MexSport</em></p>



<div style="background:#f9e4ea;padding:10px;">
<h3>Guide to World Cup 2022</h3>
<div style="padding:10px;">
Here are some resources to help you get the most out of the biggest event in soccer!
</div>
<div style="padding:10px;">
<a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/world-cup-tv-schedule/"><strong>TV Schedule:</strong></a> All the info on <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/world-cup-tv-schedule/">where and when to watch</a> every game
</div><div style="padding:10px;">
<a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/2022/04/04/analysis-of-world-cup-groups/"><strong>The Groups:</strong></a> We <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/2022/04/04/analysis-of-world-cup-groups/">breakdown each group</a> and all the teams
</div><div style="padding:10px;">
<a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/world-cup-jerseys-for-qatar-2022/"><strong>The Kits:</strong></a> Check out <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/world-cup-jerseys-for-qatar-2022/">what every team will be wearing</a> on the field this fall
</div><div style="padding:10px;">
<a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/predictor/"><strong>Predictor:</strong></a> Play out every scenario with our <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/predictor/">World Cup Predictor</a>
</div><div style="padding:10px;">
<a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/2022/04/05/world-cup-bracket-free-download/"><strong>World Cup Bracket:</strong></a> Map out the <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/2022/04/05/world-cup-bracket-free-download/">entire tournament</a>, from the groups to the final
</div><div style="padding:10px;">
<a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/category/world-cup-2022/"><strong>World Cup Hub:</strong></a> Your one stop for <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/category/world-cup-2022/">everything Qatar 2022</a>
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What went wrong and what went well in the Cameroon stalemate with Serbia. The draw brings hope to a Cameroon team searching for success.

ALL POSTS TAGGED "Vincent Aboubakar"

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Cameroon defeat Brazil in memorable ending at World Cup

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Cameroon 3-3 thriller with Serbia brings hope