Oribe Peralta’s second half goal was enough to give Mexico a deserved 1-0 win over Cameroon in Natal.
Oribe Peralta’s second half goal was enough to give Mexico a deserved 1-0 win over Cameroon in Natal.
Inter target Javier Hernandez was left on the bench by Miguel Herrera, so Peralta and Giovani dos Santos started up front for the Central American side. Volker Finke meanwhile, started with Samuel Eto’o and exciting youngster Maxim Choupo-Moting up top.
But it was the CONCACAF nation who got off to the brighter start – Miguel Layan testing Charles Itandje after just eight minutes, firing from 30 yards after a neat midfield move.
And it almost got even better just a few minutes later. A cross from the right was converted by Dos Santos on the volley, but the linesman adjudged him, wrongly, to be offside.
The African’s slowly got back into the match following their sluggish start and went close themselves midway through the half. A nice run from Benoit Assou-Ekotto down the left saw the Tottenham man square to Eto’o, but his shot from 12 yards went wide of the post.
Mexico were certainly the more aggrieved side going into the break however, as for the second time in the half, they had a goal disallowed. A corner from the left found Dos Santos at the far post, but the Villarreal striker’s header was ruled out for offside.
After the break, Herrera’s men continued to press for the opening goal, looking like the side much more likely to break the deadlock. Itandje though, had other ideas, blocking Peralta’s close range effort on the 55 minute mark.
Just six minutes later though, a goal was finally scored, and it went with the run of play. A shot from Dos Santos was saved by the Cameroon goalkeeper, but following up was Peralta to tap in.
Finke’s men struggled to create any meaningful chance after that, but went close with almost the last kick of the game. A cross from Eyong Enoh found Benjamin Moukandjo’s head, but Guillermo Ochoa, who had been so quiet throughout the game, flew to his right and stopped well.
Mexico 1-0 Cameroon
Scorers: Peralta 61 (M)
Mexico: Ochoa; P.Aguilar, Maza (Salcido 92), Marquez, H.Moreno, Layún; H.Herrera, Vazquez, Guardado (Fabian 69); Peralta (Hernandez 73), Giovani dos Santos
Cameroon: Itandje; Djeugoue (Nounkou 45), Chedjou, Nkoulou, Assou-Ekotto; Mbia, Song (Webo 79), Enoh; Moukandjo, Choupo-Moting; Eto'o.
Referee: Wilmar (COL)