Soccer News of Sunday, 1 June 2014

Source: ghanasoccernet.com

Cameroon draws a deserved 2-2 with Germany

Samuel Eto’o gave Cameroon a lead early in the second half, but the German responded with two goals, five minutes apart, to take the lead. Cameroon answered though thanks to Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, earning a well deserved draw.

The match got off to a fast start with Germany nearly taking the lead less than two minutes in.

Sami Khedira fed Mesut Özil with a lovely back heel pass, but the Arsenal midfielder’ shot curled wide of the post.

Samuel Eto’o, playing as virtually the only attacker for Cameroon who began the match sitting very deep, managed to get on the ball after Per Mertesacker shut down the initial counter attack.

Eto’o sent a scorcher towards Roman Weidenfeller, but he dragged his shot wide. in the 12th minute, Mario Götze had a close call of his own, running on an over-the-top through ball from Thomas Müller.

The Bayern Munich attacker beat Charles-Hubert Itandjé, but the shot hammered off the post.

Germany continued to waste chances as the half progressed, and in the 39th minute, Benjamin Moukandjo nearly gave Cameroon a 1-0 lead.

Moukandjo got behind the German defense, but was denied at point blank range by Weidenfeller with a sliding kick save.

Marco Reus joined the “just missed a goal” club in the 49th minute, failing to finish off a chance after a great pass from Müller.

Finally a goal arrived in the 62nd minute, but it wasn’t for Germany.

Samuel Eto’o, who’d been a pest all game, had his initial shot blocked by Weidenfeller, but the rebound rolled out left where it was sent back in the center of the German box by Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting.

After a slight deflection, it ended up on Eto’o's boot again, and he didn’t miss the second chance, firing the ball into the empty net to make it 1-0 for Cameroon.

The lead was short lived though, as Germany responded in the 66th minute with a quick equalizer.

Jerome Boateng chased down a ball on the right side of the box, and made an impressive cross against his momentum that was met by a surging Müller.

The Bayern striker anticipated some contact from a defender, and sent a powerful header down and past Itandjé.

Four minutes minutes later Germany took the lead when Lukas Podolski raced onto a through ball down the left wing, drawing Itandjé’s attention as he moved into the box.

Once the Cameroon keeper committed, Podolski sent a low cross right to Andre Schürrle for an easy finish into the empty net.

Cameroon weren’t done, and fought back with an equalizer in the 78th minute.

Choupo-Moting took advantage of some lax defending, dribbling uncontested into the German box before firing a low show past Weidenfeller.