Qatar 2022: Wasteful Cameroon Lose To Switzerland

Breel Embolo of Cameroonian descent scored the only goal of the game to get Switzerland off to a winning start in Group G against Cameroon.

Second-best in the first half, the Swiss scored three minutes after the break.

Before the second segment, Cameroon looked in total control of the game. At the 10th minute, there was a first chance for the Indomitable Lions. Mbeumo bursts down the left of the box, ignoring Choupo-Moting in the middle, electing to shoot instead. From a tight angle, his attempt was pushed away, with Toko-Ekambi blasting over the rebound.

On the half hour mark, the men of coach Rigobert Song once more had a glorious chance. A smart one-two between Mbeumo and Choupo-Moting saw the latter move into space just outside the box. Mbeumo then put it on the path of Hongla whose shot was pushed away by Sommer – and further cleared by Widmer.

Switzerland’s best chance of the first half came through Akanji. The Manchester city defender jumped highest to meet a corner from Vargas, but he headed the ball wide. The erstwhile Dortmund man only got a small amount of contact on the cross and may have scored with a better connection.

Seemingly tired in the second 45 minutes, Cameroon should have taken the lead in the first.

Cameroon didn’t face a single shot on target in the first half of a World Cup game for only the second time in their history after 2002 v Germany, when they eventually lost 2-0.

Switzerland blew hot in the second stanza. Unmarked, Embolo lashed the ball past Onana who had no chance, 3 minutes after the pose.

Switzerland could have scored a second through a similar move. That time it was Vargas who had the scoring opportunity, but Inter goalkeeper Andre Onana pushed his attempt wide.

The Indomitable Lions will face Serbia in four days in a game that is shaping up to be a must win already, with the indomitable Lions must make it past group G.