ACTUALITE |
28.03.2002
Argentina 2 Cameroon 2
Pablo Aimar was in irresistable form for Argentina on Wednesday as Marcello Bielsa`s side were held to a draw by Cameroon in an entertaining encounter in Geneva. The Valencia midfielder won his team a penalty in the first half before scoring himself after the break.
Argentina dominated possession in the opening stages and looked capable of cutting through the Cameroon defence every time they went forward.
Their first shot on goal came after just four minutes when Claudio Lopez beat the Cameroon offside trap and saw his fierce right-footed shot pushed round the post by goalkeeper Bouker Alioum from an acute angle.
But for all Argentina`s intricate passing moves, Cameroon always looked threatening on the break, and they showed just what they are capable of in the 15th minute when Marc Vivien Foe headed Bill Tchato`s cross against the crossbar.
But a minute later, Argentina struck the first blow. Aimar showed superb poise and speed on the ball as he burst onto a return pass from Kily Gonzalez only to be scythed down by Raymond Kalla inside the penalty area.
The referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot, and Juan Sebastian Veron coolly sent Alioum the wrong way to score.
Cameroon refused to let their heads drop, though, and Real Mallorca striker Samuel Eto`o was unlucky not to draw his side level in the 18th minute when he turned inside two Argentina defenders and unleashed a powerful right-footed drive which produced a superb reaction save from German Burgos.
Eto`o did equalise two minutes later, though, as Argentina failed to defend a free kick from Geremi. The Real Madrid full back arched a cross over from the left and Eto`o ghosted into the box to head easily past Burgos.
Cameroon came close to taking the lead on the half-hour mark from another set-piece. Geremi was again the architect, this time curling a 30-yard shot onto the top of the Argentina crossbar.
Argentina got off to the better start in the second half and on 52 minutes a flowing move between Lopez and Caniggia ended with Aimar restoring Argentina`s lead.
Marcello Beilsa`s side took their foot off the gas in the final 30 minutes and eventually paid a price for their lack of adventure when Cameroon equalised with five minutes left on the clock.
From their fourth consecutive corner, Njitap swung over a cross and Sheffield United forward Patrick Suffo headed the ball home.
Argentina: Burgos, Chamot, Pochettino, Samuel, Zanetti, Sorin, Aimar, Veron, Caniggia, Lopez, Gonzalez
Cameroon: Alioum, Wome, Tchato, Song, Kalla, Foe, Olembe, Njitap, Eto`o, Djemba-Djemba, Ndiefi
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