** Ireland 1 Cameroon 1**
Good match where Ireland dominated the second half and could have won the match.
http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/en/020601/2/o8o.html
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND 1 : 1 CAMEROON
by FIFAworldcup.com
The 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan™ kicked off in Japan with Cameroon and Ireland fighting to a tense Group E draw in Niigata. Both sides had their fair share of good chances, but Patrick Mboma and Matt Holland were the only names on the score sheet in the end.
Watched by colourful fans on both sides, it was a match of contradictory halves, as the Indomitable Lions looked far and away the better side in the first. However, Mick McCarthy’s team, without sent home captain Roy Keane, recovered bravely after the break and drew level early in the second half. The Irish will now face group-favourites Germany, while Cameroon take on Saudi Arabia in Saitama on 6 June.
A cautious start by both teams produced little in the opening minutes, until Ireland’s Matt Holland dived in hard at Marc-Vivien Foe, getting a piece of the ball but more of the Cameroon midfielder’s right knee (7’). The collision seemed to spark the Africans, as they began to gain an edge in possession.
Samuel Etoo created the first real chance of the match when he worked a one-two with Patrick Mboma near midfield to get free. As he raced into the box, charging Ireland goalkeeper Shay Given came out hard to smother the attempt (19’).
Etoo produced another strong chance after running onto a lob into the right side of the penalty area. At the corner of the goal box, he turned and lofted a shot over Given, but off target and out for a goal kick (32’).
Etoo began to create more danger from that point on and was integral in breaking the deadlock when he beat a defender at the by-line on the right side, and his pass found the foot of Mboma, who easily slotted the ball into the empty net (0:1, 39’).
Late in the half, Ireland’s Ian Harte whipped a free kick into the box from the right side that was nearly knocked into the Cameroon goal by defender Rigobert Song, but goalkeeper Boukar Alioum smothered the ball to prevent the own goal (45’).
But that was the only real chance allowed by Cameroon in the first 45 minutes, as they did their part to earn the lead going into the dressing room.
The hard-working Irish side started the second half in search of an early goal and almost had one when Kevin Kilbane’s glancing header from Ian Harte’s cross skidded wide of the back post (49’).
Just after Geremi narrowly missed the far post after winning possession deep in the Irish half, Ireland found their equaliser through Matt Holland. Kilbane’s cross from the left side was only half cleared by Cameroon, and Holland drilled a solid right-footer from 25 metres into the left corner (1:1, 52’).
The goal really sparked Ireland and they almost went ahead when a ball played into the goal mouth for Robbie Keane was blocked towards goal by Rigobert Song, and only a desperate dive from goalkeeper Boukar Alioum kept the game level (63’).
Through most of the second half, neither side consistently had the better run of play, but Ireland seemed to sense victory as the match drew to a close and gained momentum.
Robbie Keane looked to take advantage of some more poor work by the Cameroon defence. Standing at the edge of the penalty area, Keane coolly controlled a driven clearance with one touch, and his quick right-footed drive crashed off the far post (84’).
As the clock neared full time, Ireland had another opportunity to go ahead but Steven Reid’s powerful free kick was tipped over the bar by Alioum (90’).
[This message has been edited by ehsan (edited June 01, 2002).]