A wild elbow from Alex Song on Croatia striker
Mario Mandzukic ended Cameroon’s hopes of
advancing from Group A in Manaus.
The Barcelona midfielder was given a straight
red card after losing his cool in the 40th
minute, by which time Cameroon were already a
goal behind.
Cameroon’s night went from bad to worse
following Song’s dismissal, as they conceded
three times in the second half to quash any
dreams they had of qualifying for the knockout
stages.
And to top things off, Tottenham defender
Benoit Assou-Ekotto headbutted team-mate
Benjamin Moukandjo in the closing stages.
MATCH FACTS
Sent off: Song.
Booked: Eduardo.
Goals: Olic 11, Perisic 48, Mandzukic 61, 73
Attendance: 36,000
Referee: Pedro Proenca (Portugal)
Man of the Match: Ivan Perisic
Ivica Olic’s close-range finish gave Croatia the
lead against the run of play in the 10th minute,
after the Indomitable Lions had sparkled in the
opening exchanges.
A thunderous run and strike from Ivan Perisic
doubled Croatia’s advantage shortly after the
break, before Mandzukic marked his return from
suspension with two goals in quick succession.
There had been encouraging signs for Cameroon
from kick-off, as they launched a series of
attacks down the right. It took them 91 seconds
to register a shot against Mexico in their 1-0
defeat in the opening game, but at the
Amazonia Arena that statistic was put to bed.
Less than 30 seconds had passed when
Benjamin Moukandjo fashioned their first
chance, firing into the side-netting from an
acute angle.
Volker Finke’s side continued to push and
probe, with Vincent Aboubakar, starting in place
of the injured Samuel Eto’o, causing particular
havoc with his pace and trickery.
Then, against the run of play, Croatia took the
lead.
A dangerous cross from Darijo Srna from the
right fell straight to Perisic on the edge of the
box and he dissected the Cameroon defence
with a perfect pass to the back post, where Olic
was on hand to thump home.
Mario Mandzukic ended Cameroon’s hopes of
advancing from Group A in Manaus.
The Barcelona midfielder was given a straight
red card after losing his cool in the 40th
minute, by which time Cameroon were already a
goal behind.
Cameroon’s night went from bad to worse
following Song’s dismissal, as they conceded
three times in the second half to quash any
dreams they had of qualifying for the knockout
stages.
And to top things off, Tottenham defender
Benoit Assou-Ekotto headbutted team-mate
Benjamin Moukandjo in the closing stages.
MATCH FACTS
Sent off: Song.
Booked: Eduardo.
Goals: Olic 11, Perisic 48, Mandzukic 61, 73
Attendance: 36,000
Referee: Pedro Proenca (Portugal)
Man of the Match: Ivan Perisic
Ivica Olic’s close-range finish gave Croatia the
lead against the run of play in the 10th minute,
after the Indomitable Lions had sparkled in the
opening exchanges.
A thunderous run and strike from Ivan Perisic
doubled Croatia’s advantage shortly after the
break, before Mandzukic marked his return from
suspension with two goals in quick succession.
There had been encouraging signs for Cameroon
from kick-off, as they launched a series of
attacks down the right. It took them 91 seconds
to register a shot against Mexico in their 1-0
defeat in the opening game, but at the
Amazonia Arena that statistic was put to bed.
Less than 30 seconds had passed when
Benjamin Moukandjo fashioned their first
chance, firing into the side-netting from an
acute angle.
Volker Finke’s side continued to push and
probe, with Vincent Aboubakar, starting in place
of the injured Samuel Eto’o, causing particular
havoc with his pace and trickery.
Then, against the run of play, Croatia took the
lead.
A dangerous cross from Darijo Srna from the
right fell straight to Perisic on the edge of the
box and he dissected the Cameroon defence
with a perfect pass to the back post, where Olic
was on hand to thump home.
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