SOCCER : Mexico’s Reserve Team Easily Beats Cameroon
Even while fielding a team of seldom-seen reserves, Mexico had little trouble defeating Cameroon, 1-0, Wednesday night in an international soccer game before an estimated 35,000 at the Coliseum.
The Mexican national team started only one player from its team that won the CONCACAF Gold Cup in July--soundly defeating the U.S. national team, 4-0. When that player, goalkeeper Jorge Campos, was substituted for in the 66th minute, Mexico fielded what amounted to a third-string team the rest of the way.
The confidence and ability of its bench players showed the depth of Mexico’s national player pool.
Mexico controlled play in the first half and scored in the second. That goal came in the 51st minute, after an attempted backpass from defender Bahanag Song to his goalkeeper was intercepted by Daniel Guzman. Guzman’s high shot from the left side easily flew past goalkeeper Boukar Alioum of Cameroon.
Mexico was the first team to qualify for next summer’s World Cup. Cameroon needs only one point to qualify. Its next game is at home Oct. 10 against Zimbabwe.
Cameroon was the sensation of the 1990 World Cup, pleasing with its style and advancement in the tournament. Led by its 38-year-old captain, Roger Milla, Cameroon lost in the quarterfinals to England on penalty kicks.
Only four players from that World Cup team are still with the national team. Cameroon fielded a few veterans Wednesday night and rounded out its roster with players borrowed from its under-23 team.
What Cameroon lacked in experience, it made up for with speed and a cantankerous personality. That feisty play led to numerous yellow cards and the ejection of Samuel Ekeme in the 26th minute. An already outmatched Cameroon was left to play with one fewer player for 64 minutes.
Cameroon’s best scoring chance came one minute after Ekeme’s ejection, when Jean Pierre Mbvoum’s high shot from the left side hit the crossbar.
