Cameroon tonight became first team knocked out World Cup after wild night attacking thrills in Pretoria. But they, along with most crowd here, will scratching their heads wondering quite how it happened.
Paul Le Guen’s side threw everything at Denmark, created much better chances — they had 23 shots 13 — and forced Thomas Sorensen into a series desperate saves. They went ahead early through Samuel Eto’o and had most possession afterwards it was all no avail. Two fine goals counter, Nicklas Bendtner and Dennis Rommedahl, knocked stuffing out them and Japan and Denmark, who both have three points, playing each other final group game Cameroon are out.
Cameroon arrived Pretoria riven by feuding following Le Guen’s decision deploy Eto’o right and omit Alex Song for team’s defeat Japan. This time round Le Guen – pressured by government officials and Eto’o himself – reversed his decisions and, Eto’o centre, Song guarding back four and Achille Emana brought bolster attack, Cameroon looked far better for it.
They attacked from off went ahead after 10 minutes after an eyes-wide-shut mistake from Christian Poulsen, who passed blind right from edge his penalty area Eyong Enoh, who crossed Eto’o slide past Sorensen. As Cameroonians celebrated, Le Guen clapped pumped his fists sidelines, but he cut lonely figure.
Denmark, having lost their opening match to Holland, also picked team intent on attacking, with Jesper Gronkjaer brought for Thomas Enevoldsen Jon Dahl Tomasson playing behind Nicklas Bendtner 4-2-3-1 formation.
But this sacrificed their defensive solidity, they were repeatedly exposed whenever Eto’o Emana ran at them. Emana should have made it two when he ran defensive clearance smashed it just wide.
Their defence was creaking but at the other end Denmark had chances too what quickly proved to the most open game of the tournament. Early on, Rommedahl took pass from Christian Poulsen, cut from the right and shot over. Then Bendtner turned Nicolas Nkoulou to collect Rommedahl’s pass only for his close-range shot to smothered.
But it was still minor surprise when, shortly after half-hour, Denmark equalised. From just outside his own penalty area Simon Kjaer hit spectacular 70-yard pass over Benoît Assou-Ekotto and into Rommedahl’s path. Rommedahl took one touch and crossed Bendtner who slotted home close range.
By this stage both teams had already given up trying to defend. In the space of two minutes before half-time Rommedahl’s shot was smothered, Tomasson smashed over from 12 yards, Eto′o hit the post Emana missed one-on-one.
The second half was same with Sorensen forced to tip over Mbia’s header. Cameroon continued to look better side came close to retaking lead when Pierre Webo shot straight at Sorensen from an Assou-Ekotto′s cross.
As Webo held his hands his face, Denmark broke quickly. From central position Bendtner chipped lovely pass into space Assou-Ekottu had vacated into path Rommedahl, who turned inside Nkoulou before curling shot into far corner.
Cameroon continued have better chances and when Eto’o played in Makoun, only Cameroon spurn another chance Le Guen was jumping up and down touchline in frustration.
Denmark nearly increased their lead 71 minutes when Tomasson’s curling shot was spectacularly tipped away. Cameroon kept searching equaliser and 13 minutes from time Sorensen had make best save night, diving down low his left keep out Emana’s shot.
Still chances kept coming. Mohamadou Idrissou missed a free-header from six yards out, and substitute Vincent Aboubakar’s piledriver was surely going when it smashed into head of Christian Poulsen.
In dying moments Kjaer picked up yellow card which means he will miss match against Japan on Thursday. But after somehow surviving this battering that will far from Danish minds tonight.
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