• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Manchester Football

A website about football in Manchester

You are here: Home / International / Croatia put 10-man Cameroon out of the World Cup with a 4-goal broadside

Croatia put 10-man Cameroon out of the World Cup with a 4-goal broadside

June 19, 2014 by Paul Chan

CAMEROON 0, CROATIA 4 (WORLD CUP GROUP A)

SONG SEES RED AS CAMEROON FOLLOW SPAIN AND AUSTRALIA OUT OF THE WORLD CUP

Croatia scored four times as Cameroon racked up a record equalling red card tally at World Cup finals and crashed out of a tournament they were late to arrive at due to infighting over bonus payments.

Ivica Olic’s early goal set the Croats on their way before Alex Song was sent off for lashing out at Mario Mandzukic late in the first half. Ivan Perisic punished a poor goal kick by Charles Itandje to score a great solo effort while Mandzukic had the last word with a brace as Cameroon’s Indomitable Lions crumbled without injured striker Samuel Eto’o in the Manaus heat.

Veteran striker Olic’s early goal gave Croatia some breathing space in on a balmy Manaus evening but it was Alex Song’s red card, for lashing out at Mandzukic off the ball, that gave the Croats the killer advantage.

The wily striker had got in Song’s way as Perisic escaped up the left flank with the ball and the Barcelona midfielder should have known better as he lashed out with his elbow. Mandzukic went down and the referee saw enough to give Song his marching orders.

It was a grim decision for Cameroon who had control of the game but without offering much in the way of danger on the Croat goal.

Olic had come up from the left flank and offered Perisic a target to aim for when Mandzukic laid off the ball. One pin point pass later and Olic gratefully gobbled up the chance.

Song’s red card at the end of the first half was a massive blow to Cameroon’s World Cup hopes. It was their eighth at a World Cup finals (level with Argentina), and the third for a member of the Song family with Alex’s uncle Rigobert racking two others up at previous tournaments.

There was little time to Perisic’s solo run and goal after Charles Itandje’s poor 48th minute goal kick effectively finished off the Cameroonians.

Dario Srna hit a free kick over in the 59th minute as Croatia made the most of their man advantage with chances flying in later in the second half.

Mario Mandzukic, in the side instead of Nikica Jelavic after serving a one match suspension, had already spurned a 50th minute chance to seal victory, but it was only a matter of time before he got himself on the scoresheet as he rose unmarked to head in a corner in the 61st minute.

The goal mouth predator bagged another in the 73rd minute when he was presented with a tap-in after Itandje saved Eduardo’s shot.

A thoroughly beaten Cameroon had long been reduced to mainly long range shots but they didn’t seem to have the spirit to raise themselves to climb the mountain in Manaus.

They couldn’t even get a consolation goal as Benjamin Moukandjo missed a great chance with five minutes to go.

Ivan Rakitic spurned the chance to make it 5-0 during a counter attack when Olic’s pass was slightly too short for him to comfortably take a shot under pressure.

And Pierre Webo forced Stipe Pletikosa to tip his shot over before trying an outrageous overhead kick when the ball fell to him.

The Cameroon campaign had started with controversy over win bonuses and finally ended with a similar sour note when Benoit Assou-Ekotto clashed with his own team mate Benjamin Moukandjo in the final moments of the thrashing.

Filed Under: International Tagged With: Alex Song, Cameroon, Croatia, Ivan Perisic, Ivica Olic, Mario Mandzukic, World Cup 2014

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy

Primary Sidebar

Categories

  • Altrincham
  • Ashton United
  • Curzon Ashton
  • Europe
  • FA Cup
  • Hyde United
  • International
  • League Cup
  • Manchester City
  • Manchester City Women
  • Manchester United
  • Manchester United Women
  • Match Report
  • Melbourne City FC
  • Mossley
  • New York City FC
  • Non League
  • North West
  • Oldham Athletic
  • Premier League
  • Salford City
  • Stalybridge Celtic
  • Stockport County
  • Stretford Paddock
  • UEFA Champions League
  • Uncategorized

Manchester Football

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org

RSS Manchesterfootball Youtube

  • "For the next games he will not be able to play" - Pep Guardiola on Bernardo Silva - Man City injury
    manchesterfootball
  • Silence for Libya and Morocco - Man City vs Red Star Belgrade - 4K
    manchesterfootball
  • "Danny Welbeck is an incredible player" - Roberto De Zerbi Press Conference Man Utd vs Brighton
    manchesterfootball

RSS BBC Football News

  • Odegaard signs new five-year deal at Arsenal September 22, 2023
    Arsenal agree a new five-year deal with captain Martin Odegaard to keep the 24-year-old Norway midfielder at the club until the end of the 2027-28 season.
  • Can you name the Arsenal v Spurs top scorers? September 22, 2023
    Can you name the 18 players to score three or more goals in Premier League games between Arsenal and Tottenham?
  • The big Postecoglou interview: 'I never thought I would get here' September 22, 2023
    Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou tells Gary Lineker he never thought his Premier League chance would come and that he was "last man standing" this summer.
  • Time for the wildcard? Fantasy football tips September 21, 2023
    Will you stick or twist when it comes to playing your fantasy football wildcard? Alistair Bruce-Ball previews gameweek six.

Search Manchester Football

Copyright © 2023 · Metro Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in