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Serbia, Cameroon Tie 3–3 in Game of the Tournament at World Cup

The Indomitable Lions came back from a 3–1 deficit in the second half to earn a point in a thrilling Group G draw.

Andrew Gastelum

Cameroon and Serbia combined for the game of the tournament thus far in a thrilling 3–3 draw in Group G. 

After taking an early lead, Cameroon conceded three unanswered goals, including two during first-half stoppage time, that seemed to put its World Cup survival at risk. But facing a 3–1 deficit, the Indomitable Lions bounced back with two goals in three minutes, buoyed by the substitution of star forward Vincent Aboubakar. 

Cameroon and Serbia were both feeling the urgency to get a result after Cameroon fell to Switzerland 1–0 (on a goal by Cameroon-born Breel Embolo), while Serbia fell victim to Brazil 2–0 (more specifically, to a Richarlison double and sensational acrobatic goal).

Cameroon had come into the match having lost its last eight World Cup matches, a streak that spanned four World Cups and dated back to 2002. A draw meant Cameroon avoided tying a World Cup record for consecutive losses (Mexico from 1930 to ’58.)

The team was also consumed by reports that Cameroon goalkeeper André Onana, who plays for Inter Milan, was dropped by the team for disciplinary reasons and reportedly left the tournament. But Cameroon showed resilience to come back from a second-half deficit for the point. 

Serbia was on the front foot early, putting pressure on Cameroon and creating a chance in the sixth minute with an Aleksandar Mitrović header. The Fulham striker found himself in the middle of the penalty area with an open header that he might regret as he sent the chance well over the goal. 

Just minutes later, Mitrović returned with an even more dangerous chance. The forward combined for a quick one-two down the wing, faked a pass to lose his defender and cut onto his left for a curling shot that beat the keeper but rattled off the post. 

In the 17th minute, Mitrović was at it again with his best chance yet. After a defensive scramble from Cameroon, a deflection fell right to Mitrović at point-blank range, but the striker somehow pushed the shot wide with just the keeper to beat.

Cameroon struck first in the 29th minute thanks to Jean-Charles Castelletto’s first international goal. Off a corner kick, the defender made a run to the back post and swept in a flicked-on header from Nicolas Nkoulou to give Cameroon the lead. 

Pierre Kunde came back with another chance for Cameroon in the 43rd minute, breaking away from the Serbian defense and sending a shot on target that was stopped by the goalkeeper. 

But Serbia answered back in first-half stoppage time courtesy of Strahinja Pavlović. Dušan Tadić whipped in a free kick that found the RB Salzburg defender for a header that rippled the back of the net for the equalizer. 

Just minutes later, Serbia added its second stoppage-time goal to take the lead. After a poor clearance from Cameroon, Sergej Milinković-Savić put the ball on his left from the edge of the area and snuck it into the corner of the goal to take the lead. 

Serbia kept up the pace after halftime, extending its lead to 3–1 in the 53rd minute. Cameroon looked lost in its own box as Serbia passed around the penalty area with ease. In the end, Milinković-Savić found Andrija Živković, whose ball into the center of the area set up Mitrović for the tap-in. 

After coming on a substitute, Aboubakar scored one of the goals of the tournament to bring Cameroon back into the game. In the 63rd minute, Aboubakar beat the offside trap and delivered a stunning chip on the keeper to make it 3–2.

Just three minutes later, Cameroon stunned Serbia with the equalizer. Aboubakar once again gave Serbia trouble, delivering a cross from the right wing that found Bayern Munich’s Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting to tie the match at 3–3. 

Mitrović had another handful of close chances in the waning moments of the match, barely missing on a curling effort in the 89th while his chip caught the Cameroon keeper on the chin two minutes later for the last chance of the game.

With both sides level on a point, Cameroon will face Brazil in the final group stage match while Serbia will meet Switzerland. 

Here were the lineups for both teams:

Full World Cup Squads

Cameroon

GOALKEEPERS: Devis Epassy (Abha), Andre Onana (Inter Milan), Simon Ngapandouetnbu (Marseille)

DEFENDERS: Jean-Charles Castelletto (Nantes), Enzo Ebosse (Udinese), Collins Fai (Al-Tai), Olivier Mbaizo (Philadelphia Union), Nicolas Nkoulou (Aris), Nouhou Tolo (Seattle Sounders), Christopher Wooh (Rennes)

MIDFIELDERS: Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa (Napoli), Samuel Gouet (Mechelen), Martin Hongla (Hellas Verona), Pierre Kunde (Olympiacos), Jerome Ngom (Colombe Dja), Olivier Ntcham (Swansea City), Gael Ondoua (Hannover 96)

FORWARDS: Vincent Aboubakar (Al-Nassr), Christian Bassogog (Shanghai Shenhua), Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting (Bayern Munich), Karl Toko Ekambi (Lyon), Bryan Mbeumo (Brentford), Moumi Ngamaleu (Dynamo Moscow), Georges-Kevin Nkoudou (Besiktas), Jean-Pierre Nsame (Young Boys), Marou Souaibou (Coton Sport)

Serbia

GOALKEEPERS: Marko Dmitrović (Sevilla), Vanja Milinković-Savić (Torino), Predrag Rajković (Mallorca)

DEFENDERS: Srđan Babić (Almeria), Strahinja Eraković (Red Star Belgrade), Filip Mladenović (Legia Warsaw), Nikola Milenković (Fiorentina), Stefan Mitrović (Red Star Belgrade), Strahinja Pavlović (Salzburg), Miloš Veljković (Werder Bremen)

MIDFIELDERS: Marko Grujić (Porto), Nemanja Gudelj (Sevilla), Ivan Ilić (Hellas Verona), Filip Kostić (Juventus), Darko Lazović (Hellas Verona), Saša Lukić (Torino), Nemanja Maksimović (Getafe), Sergej Milinković-Savić (Lazio), Uroš Račić (Braga), Andrija Živković (PAOK Thessaloniki)

FORWARDS: Filip Đuričić (Sampdoria), Luka Jović (Fiorentina), Aleksandar Mitrović (Fulham), Nemanja Radonjić (Torino), Dušan Tadić (Ajax), Dušan Vlahović (Juventus)

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Andrew Gastelum
ANDREW GASTELUM

Andrew Gastelum is a programming editor and writer at Sports Illustrated who specializes in soccer, the Olympics and international sports. He joined the SI staff in March 2021 and previously contributed to Howler Magazine and NBC Sports. He is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame alum and is currently based in Italy.

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