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Cameroon miss chance to beat Australia

Jonathan Harding
June 22, 2017

The team Germany beat in the first game of 2017 Confederations Cup Group B were held by Germany's final opponent in an encounter that took a while to get going, but eventually turned into an exciting one.

https://p.dw.com/p/2fD2v
Confed Cup 2017 | Kamerun vs Australien
Image: Reuters/G. Dukor

Cameroon 1-1 Australia
(Zambo Anguissa 45+1' - Milligan pen. 61')
Krestovsky Stadium, St. Petersburg

Former Leverkusen winger Robbie Kruse, still without a team, fired wide early on, but most of the opening half an hour passed with light sparring from both sides.

A lovely one-two from Cameroon shortly before the 40-minute mark saw Benjamin Moukandjo strike a goal, and while Mathew Ryan saved easily it was a sign of things to come. Christian Bassogog's speed opened Australia up on the break, and while that attack ended in nothing, the African nation soon had the opening their play deserved.

A great ball down the right wing from Michael Ngadeu-Ngadjui was met by midfielder Zambo Anguissa who instinctively flicked the ball over the out-rushing Ryan for the lead.

Confed Cup 2017 | Kamerun vs Australien
Australia made no mistake from the spot to salvage a pointImage: Reuters/C. Recine

After the restart, Australia looked the better side and had chances to score, but they were only really spurred into action when they almost conceded a second. Two minutes after Zambo Anguissa fired wide of the far post, the Socceroos were level. A foul from Ernest Mabouka resulted in a penalty (VAR approved) and Mark Milligan left the keeper no chance.

The tempo of the game picked up as both sides went for the win. Vincent Aboubakar headed just over the bar and although Cameroon looked the more likely to reclaim the lead, and perhaps should have done, both sides had to make do with a share of the spoils.