Al Wakrah (Qatar): Cameroon striker Vincent Aboubakar got here off the bench to attain one aim and arrange one other because the Indomitable Lions rescued some extent of their 3-3 draw with Serbia on Monday that ended a run of eight successive World Cup losses for the African aspect.
The roller-coaster Group G fixture leaves either side on a single level from their two video games, nonetheless simply in rivalry for a final 16 place, though Cameroon should face Brazil of their remaining match on Friday, whereas Serbia tackle Switzerland.
Jean-Charles Castelletto celebrates his aim. Photograph: Twitter@FIFA World Cup
Jean-Charles Castelletto gave Cameroon the lead simply earlier than the half-hour mark, however a quick-fire double on the finish of the primary interval from Strahinja Pavlovic and the vastly spectacular Sergej Milinkovic-Savic swung the sport in Serbia’s favour.
When Aleksandar Mitrovic added one other early within the second interval his aspect appeared in full management and cruising to a win.
However Aboubakar, who top-scored on the Africa Cup of Nations finals earlier this 12 months, turned the sport round when he got here off the bench.
He netted a advantageous solo aim with an audacious chip over the keeper to scale back the deficit, earlier than breaking ahead and crossing to Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting to smash within the equaliser three minutes later.
It was Serbia who had began the brighter, nevertheless. After Mitrovic had floated a header over the bar, he struck the put up when his fast footwork created a capturing likelihood from a good angle.
Serbia’s Sergej Milinkovic-Savic celebrates his aim. Photograph: Twitter@FIFA World Cup
He had one other big alternative when Cameroon made a hash of clearing their traces and the ball fell to him eight yards out with the entire aim to goal at, however he fired broad.
Cameroon took the lead from a set-piece after Serbia had needlessly conceded a nook. Castelletto acquired on the top of Nicolas N’Koulou’s flick to faucet residence on the again put up.
Serbia levelled in first half injury-time through a aim that was additionally easy in its execution. Dusan Tadic floated a free-kick into the field and Pavlovic rose highest to direct the ball into the nook of the online.
They grabbed the lead two minutes later when the Cameroon defence allowed Milinkovic-Savic time to select his spot from the sting of the field and steered the ball into the online.
The third for Serbia was a superbly labored that was began and completed by Mitrovic. He drove in the direction of the Cameroon field and after a succession of passes contained in the penalty space, the ball was squared by Andrija Zivkovic and the burly quantity 9 had a easy tap-in.
That was the cue for Aboubakar to return off the bench. First he supplied an ideal chip into the online for 3-2, then he beat the offside lure, raced clear and whipped over a low cross for Choupo-Moting to stage the tie and maintain Cameroon alive within the competitors.