| Chile made it into the last sixteen of France 98 thanks in part, to Italy's victory
over Austria. With the outcome of Group B finely poised, Nelson Acosta's side
knew that a victory over Cameroon was required to be sure of progression -
providing the Austrians didn't beat the Italians by a greater margin. The match
set off at a frenetic pace with the South Americans confined to their own half for
much of the first ten minutes. Cameroon pressed for the early score to fire their
own dreams of progression. However, with only their second real attack and the
subsequent corner, the Chilean strikeforce showed why they become the men to
watch. First a header from Zamorano and then the follow-up shot from Reyes
forced Cameroon 'keeper Songo'o into smart saves. Happy to let the Africans
play with the ball in midfield, Chile, in the form of Zamorano, Sierra and Salas
always looked threatening on the break. Then, after 20 minutes, Song who had
already been booked for a rash challenge in the eighth minute, brought down
Zamorano to concede a free-kick in the perfect position for Jose Sierra's left foot.
The veteran striker made no mistake with an exquisitely placed effort which crept
in, under Songo'o's crossbar. The game raced from end to end, with both sides
having good scoring opportunities. In the 35th minute, Oman Biyick, the
Cameroon captain did get the ball in the net but was adjudged to have been
offside. In the next minute he brought a stunning one handed save from 'keeper
Tapia with a strike from close range. For the last five minutes of the half, Claude
Leroy's side were encamped in Chile's penalty area but they were unable to
capitalise with a goal. Both sides came out for the restart unchanged, but also in
the knowledge that the other game in the group was goalless. If that was to
remain, Chile needed only the draw to progress and they started the half as they
meant to go on, protecting their lead. For Cameroon, all was left to play for,
victory and it would be they who progressed, but when after 52 minutes Song was
red carded for a challenge on Salas, the dream had all but disappeared. Or had
it? Four minutes later, after a quick free-kick, Joseph Ndo floated in the perfect
cross for Patrick Mboma to head home and level the scores. With over half an
hour remaining, the nerves of the Chilean team began to show. Oman Biyick
again had the ball in Tapia's net, but this time his striking partner was harshly
adjudged to have committed an offence when playing the ball through. With that
let off, the match became more physical and Chile picked up a series of bookings,
ruling out a number of key players from the next round, Parraguez, Rojas and
Villarroel among them. As the ninety minutes neared their end, the Chileans were
content to sit back and soak up the pressure, occasionally hitting Cameroon on
the break. And when African substitute, Etame was red carded after a
two-footed tackle in the 89th minute, the nine men of Cameroon must have
known that their chance had gone. Chile, who have never won a match in the
World Cup finals outside of their own country, progressed to the second stage for
the first time in 36 years thanks to three draws in the group stage and must now
face favourites Brazil in Paris for a place in the quarter-finals. |
(1-0) Sierra (21). Rigobert Song was deemed to have fouled Zamarano four yards out from the penalty area to the right
of goal, Jose Sierra stepped up to place his precise left-footed free-kick over the wall and into the top
corner of the net giving 'keeper Songo'o no chance. |
(1-1) Mboma (57). 'Keeper Songo'o took a quick free-kick from the Cameroon penalty area and the ball was worked down
the right side, Joseph Ndo sent in a deep cross for Patrick Mboma, who outjumped defender Reyes,
before directing his header into the back of the net from six yards. |
