Qatar 2022: Cameroon Keep World Cup Hopes Alive After Thrilling 3-3 Draw With Serbia

The Indomitable Lions of Cameroon kept their hopes of remaining in this year’s World Cup alive after coming from 3-1 down to draw 3-3 with Serbia in Monday’s Group G clash.

The Cameroonians looked like heading home after surrendering a 1-0 lead to trail 3-1.

But substitute Vincent Aboubakar was the hero as he scored and provided an assist for his side’s second and third goals.

Monday’s game was the first time ever that Cameroon will score three goals at the World Cup.

However, the four-time AFCON winners have it all to do in their final group game when they face almighty Brazil.

For Serbia, they must now defeat Switzerland to stand any chance of progressing.

Aleksandar Mitrovic had the first attempt on goal in the 7th minute but saw his header from a cross land on top of the roof of the net.

Mitrovic went close again on 11 minutes after beating a Cameroonian player inside the box, leaving sprawling on the ground only to see his left foot shot hit the post.

In the 17th minute Mitrovic was gifted with a chance inside the box after a rebound off a Cameroonian player landed in his front but his shot from range narrowly missed the target.

Pierre Kunde then had Cameroon’s first opportunity on 20 minutes, as he ran bombed into the Serbian box and saw his shot punched away for a corner by Serbia keeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic.

But it was Cameroon who took the lead in the 29th minute as Jean-Charles Castelletto simply tapped the ball into an empty net from a corner kick.

With three minutes left in the first half Kunde dispossessed a Serbian in midfield, raced towards goal saw his shot stopped and failed to convert the rebound.

And one minute into first half added time Serbia equalised through Strahinja Pavlovic who leapt to head home a well delivered set-piece.

Serbia struck again in the third minute of the six added time thanks to Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, who received a pass on the edge of the box before unleashing a low left foot strike into the bottom corner.

Mitrovic finally got on the score as he made it 3-1 on 53 minutes with a simple tap in following good play by Andrija Zivkovic, who neatly dribble past a couple of Cameroonians before laying it for the Fulham striker.

In the 64th minute substitute Vincent Aboubakar made it 3-2 as he beat the offside trap dribbled his marker before lobbing the ball over the Serbian keeper.

The effort was initially ruled out for offside but was reinstated after VAR check.

In the 66th minute Aboubakar then turned provider as he once again beat the offside trap, raced towards goal before laying it for Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting to slammed into the net.

With 15 minutes left Mitrovic was sent through on goal but hit his effort against the Cameroonian keeper.

Mitrovic almost won for Serbia on 89 minutes but could not direct his shot towards goal off a cross.