World Cup 2022 – Group G concluded as Switzerland advanced after 5-goal thriller against Serbia while Cameroon bow out in fashion with victory against group winner Brazil.
With qualification already in the bag after wins over Serbia and Switzerland, Brazil still won Group G, ahead of Switzerland on goal difference while Serbia and Switzerland entertained with a game full of goals and yellow cards.
Key highlights
- Cameroon’s skipper Vincent Aboubakar scored the only goal to beat Brazil
- 5 goals scored at group’s final with Switzerland’s stunning comeback to beat Serbia and advance
Serbia 2-3 Switzerland
To sum it up, the heated clash between two rivalries saw 11 yellow cards and 5 goals scored, as Switzerland breezed pass Serbia to finish as group G runner up.
Both sides exchanged chances with Breel Embolo and Andrija Zivkovic who attempted to score early in the game.
But’s the Swiss could celebrate in the 20th minute.
Djibril Sow assisted Shaqiri, who fired home via a deflection off Strahinja Pavlovic before running off to celebrate by putting a finger to his lips.
Dragan Stojković’s side hit back superbly six minutes later when Dusan Tadic’s left-wing cross was guided brilliantly past Gregor Kobel by Aleksandar Mitrovic.
Juventus’ man Dusan Vlahovic scored as Serbia completed the comeback. With the break imminent, Embolo made sure both teams would be going in the second half to start everything all over.
He turned in Silvan Widmer’s cross at the far post to make it the first time since England v Argentina in 1998 that both teams had scored at least twice in a World Cup game before half-time.
Switzerland completed the turnaround three minutes into the second half. Shaqiri chipped the ball in for Ruben Vargas, who flicked the ball beautifully on for Freuler to finish expertly.
With the game closing in, yellow cards were flooded as tempers frayed from both sides.
Substitute goalkeeper Predrag Rajkovic was booked for confronting the referee while a public address announcement asked for Serbian fans to stop making discriminatory chants and gestures.
Deep into stoppage time when Nikola Milenkovic and Xhaka clashed with several players looking to get involved. Both Milenkovic and Xhaka – another man with ethnic Albanian heritage linked to Kosovo – were booked.
This is by far, the game with most yellow cards in a World Cup match since since the 2010 final between Spain and the Netherlands (12 in 120 minutes).
Cameroon 1-0 Brazil
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A late goal by skipper Vincent Aboubakar ended Cameroon’s 20-year wait for a win at the World Cup, but it was just not enough for the African side.
Tite made nine changes to his side with Brazil secured a place next round.
Arsenal’s man Gabriel Martinelli was brilliant for the most parts as he forced the Cameroon goalie David Epassy into various saves.
Brazil were indebted to Ederson for keeping the game level when he made a fine reflex save from Bryan Mbeumo’s header, while Aboubakar dragged an effort wide as Cameroon grew into the contest after the break.
However, the deciding moment came very late when Cameroon’s Aboubakar nodded home a stoppage-time winner for Rigobert Song’s men
Two minutes into stoppage time, Aboubakar guided Jerome Ngom Mbekeli’s cross into the bottom-right corner with Ederson totally frozen inside the post.
Aboubakar was shown a second yellow card for his joyous celebration. The goal, however, was not enough to take Cameroon into the last 16 as Switzerland joined Brazil in progressing.
What’s next?
Switzerland finish as runners-up to Brazil in Group G, and go on to face Portugal in four days’ time.
Serbia go home having taken just one point from their three games, against Cameroon.
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