Samuel Eto leads Cameroon to 1-0 win over India

India today got a taste of what Cameroon football is all about during their 0-1 defeat to the Africans in the last round robin league encounter of the Nehru Cup here.

Playing his first match in a Cameroon side that made as many as nine changes, Bite Samuel put the visitors ahead even before the crowd of about 5000 settled down at the Jawaharlal Nehru.

His second-minute strike, the fastest of the tournament, left the Indian defence flailing at thin air, and the partisan turnout shocked.

In the dress rehearsal ahead of Sunday's summits showdown,Cameroon ensured that they would go into the title clash with the psychological advantage of having beaten the hosts.

Up against the 59th ranked side in the world, India did compete in patches, but failed to put up a show that would have impressed Wim Koevermans.

True, the Indians looked at the match as an opportunity to test their reserves, but so was their opponent.

In the absence of rested Sunil Chhetri, India fielded Mandeep Singh and Jewel Raja. They tried, but against a country that produced players like Roger Milla and Samuel Eto and once reached the quarterfinals of FIFA World Cup, breaching the Cameroon defence was always going to be difficult proposition.

On the other hand, even without the services of rested leading scorers Kingue Mpondo and Kologny Merime, Cameroon were served admirably by their replacements.

To begin with, the ball was restricted to the India half, and the quick goal was a reflection of which team dominated proceedings initially in the inconsequential match.

25 minutes into the first half, the stadium went quite for a while, and it was appropriate as the Africans had 70 per cent possession to India's 30.

Four minutes before the break, in what seemed like a harsh decision for India, Cameroon were awarded a penalty after the referee thought Syed Rahim Nabi had brought down Elounde.

... contd.

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