Goals: Di Biagio 8th; Vieri 75th; Vieri 90th

Bookings: Cameroon: Angibeaud 78th; Song 84th; Italy: Di Biagio 63rd. Red card: Cameroon: Kalla Nkongo 42nd.

90 minutes in 30 words: Italy cruised past Cameroon reduced to 10 when Kalla Nkongo made a two-footed lunge at Di Biagio and earned the first instant red card of the Cup. The Azzuri never truly dominated the Africans, but as Italy showed in 1994, you don't always have to play well to reach a World Cup final.

Boy done good: Christian Vieri joined Marcelo Salas as the leading scorer in France '98 with two well-taken goals.

Two left feet: Raymond Kalla Nkongo, who went in with both on Di Biagio, a tackle that could have ended the Italian's career.

Magic moment: Italians have been screaming for Alessandro Del Piero's inclusion, and in the 80th minute he showed why, marking his appearance as a sub with a delightful chip well tipped over by Joseph Songo'o in the Cameroon goal.

Mr Sitter: Vieri may have scored two, butthe Atletico Madrid striker could have had a hat-trick if not for another odd save from Songo'o in the 22nd minute.

Ref-er-ee! Blatter will have been delighted with Mr Lennie's performance. He showed no hesitation in dismissing Kalla Nkongo.

Terrace talk: Cameroon: "Slowly but surely"

Italy: "It's a long way to go home"

Group B Chile 1 Austria 1O

Goals: Chile: Salas 70th; Austria: Vastic 90th

Bookings: Austria: Schottel 25th; Chile: Villarroel 16th; Estay 48th; Salas 58th; Zamorano 74th.

90 minutes in 30 words: This potential Salas goal fest began as a hard-fought, scrappy confrontation and continued that way for 70 minutes. The Austrians flexed their muscles and the Chileans misplaced their flair but should have bagged 3 points.

Boy done good: No one really. There were more missed passes than you'd get at a nymphomaniac singles' night for the partially sighted.

Two left feet: Chile's Moises Villarroel almost took out the bird's eye camera behind the Austrian goal with a monstrouslyhoofed volley.

Magic moment: The controversial Chilean goal lit up the greyest of group matches

Mr Sitter: Markus Schopp, left clear at close range before Salas scored, managed a more clumsy first touch than the one he tried with that girl he met at a youth club disco when he was 16 Cheered: Strikeforce Sa-Za

Ref-er-ee!: Mr Ghandour could have sent Villarroel off for a heavy tackle from behind but commendably chose to flash yellow instead.

Terrace talk: Austria: "Another Great Escape - will it be an Escape to Victory?"

Chile: "How jammy can you get?"

Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.