SAITAMA, Japan, 7 June — Saudi Arabia’s Green Eagles exhibited a superb show here yesterday in their second World Cup appearance, but failed to shake their rivals’ net. African champions Cameroon clinched a 1-0 win after a strong 65-minute Saudi resistance.
Having been thrashed 8-0 by Germany in a humiliating opening match, the Saudis stunned into action yesterday to tell the world they are still the Asian champions. "This is the real performance of the Saudi team," Saudi coach Nasir Al-Jowhar told reporters after a thrilling encounter.
Al-Jowhar, who was under pressure after Saturday’s shocking 8-0 defeat, paid tribute to his players, saying they had recovered well after their drubbing by Germany. He promised disappointed fans and team staff that they would not crumble against Ireland.
"We promise that we will do our best in the final match to show the best of Saudi football and to say goodbye to the World Cup with the real picture of Saudi football," the coach said.
After a vastly improved showing the Saudis can now prepare to leave with their heads held far higher than after their German nightmare.
Goalkeeper Muhammad Al-Deayea, who stopped several Cameroonian shots, said he was proud of his side. "I think we showed our true face today. I am satisfied with the level of our performance. We had some chances but we couldn’t convert them. There were a lot of young players in the side and the future is bright," he asserted.
His teammates were admirably tenacious in the opening 45 minutes as the Africans had two efforts ruled out for offside. Cameroon, the only African side ever to make the quarter-finals with their 1990 exploits, were hell-bent on improving on a draw in their first match against Ireland.
The African champions struggled to turn their dominance into goals. They deservedly grabbed their winner when striker Samuel Eto’o raced on to a through ball and beat Al-Deayea, the Saudi captain in the absence of injured striker Sami Al-Jaber, with a low finish. Eto’o celebrated his crucial winner by stripping off his shirt and running to embrace his blond-haired coach on the touchline.
Cameroon missed a sackful of chances but Eto’o bagged the one that counted to see off Saudi Arabia, as the Saudis became the first side to be knocked out.
Cameroon almost got off to a perfect start when Spanish-based midfielder Daniel Nkome came close to winning a penalty after 17 seconds as he went tumbling in the area but Norwegian referee Terje Hauge was unimpressed.
Coach Al-Jowhar, nicknamed Mr Fixit, picked a five-man defense with influential striker Al-Jaber on the sidelines injured.
Obaid Al-Dosari, replacing Al-Jaber, should have put them into a shock lead on 10 minutes but he headed weakly over from Abdullah Al-Waked’s superb cross.
Patrick Mboma put the ball in the net for Cameroon two minutes later but the former African player of the year, on target against the Irish, was offside.
Former Asian player of the year Nawaf Al-Temyat tried a speculative effort from some 25 meters in the 21st minute but his effort flew over. Al-Dosari fell awkwardly and went off on a stretcher ten minutes before the break to be replaced by Hasan Al-Yami.
Al-Temyat should have scored on 42 minutes but rolled a right-foot low effort agonizingly wide and then was unlucky with a neat curled effort wide of Alioum Boukar’s left-hand post as the Saudis pressed forward. In-between times, Lauren had a header ruled out for offside.
Al-Deayea saved a Raymond Kalla towering header and fielded a shot from Lauren as Cameroon upped the ante after the restart and Eto’o then ballooned an effort well over the bar from just inside the box before the Saudi keeper plucked a Rigobert Song header out of the air.
Substitute Salomon Olembe then sent a fizzing drive narrowly off target before Eto’o finally ended the fortune after 65 minutes, poking the ball home with his right boot off Geremi’s flick.
Al-Temyat was the Saudis main threat in the second half but hit a low drive too close to keeper Boukar Alioum with 18 minutes to go and after negotiating four minutes of added time Cameroon held out.
Al-Temyat hit back for the Saudis with a scintillating run and shot that was well saved by Boukar Alioum. The match was a fascinating clash of styles between the Cameroonians who all play in overseas leagues and the Saudis who all turn out for teams in their homeland.
After a string of foreign coaches who have departed the Gulf side, there has been some talk that Al-Jowhar might also be shown the door following their dismal performance at these finals.
But the former international dodged the question, saying only: "After the World Cup I will be in Saudi Arabia. I will not move anywhere."
If Ireland beat Saudi Arabia by two clear goals when they meet in Yokohama on June 11, then Cameroon must win against Germany to go through to the second round. A draw in that battle in Shizuoka on the same day would not be enough because of Germany’s superior goal difference.
The German-born coach of Cameroon, Winfried Schaefer, said: "We have to beat Germany. I didn’t really want it this way but it is now this way. Germany will be the favorites, of course, they have more experience, more great games (behind them). But I’m a Lion, I am coach of the Cameroon team and I really want to get to the second round...even against Germany."
The Saudi coach is putting his money on Germany in their decisive group E match with Cameroon. "Germany are one of the favorites to win the World Cup and they are capable of winning the match against Cameroon," Al-Jowhar told reporters.
