After a Sunday full of eventful matches, Groups G & H finished up the 2022 Men’s World Cup matchday two play and did not disappoint on Monday.
World Cup Matchday 2: Groups G & H
World Cup Group G: Cameroon 3 – Serbia 3
To start the second week of the 2022 World Cup, Cameroon rallied from a 3-1 deficit to defeat Serbia, 3-3. The Serbians dropped three crucial points with their loss.
Goalkeeper Andre Onana was left out of Cameroon’s squad before the match due to a disagreement with the manager over the weekend. Devis Epassy would get the start against Serbia.
Serbia came close to an early 1-0 lead in the 11th minute. Fulham’s Aleksandar Mitrovic had Epassy beat, but his strike rang off the post. In the 17th minute, a poor clearance from Cameroon set up Mitrovic again with a scoring chance. This time, Mitrovic missed wide of the goal, putting himself in disbelief.
Cameroon struck first in the 29th minute. Jean-Charles Castelletto potted his first-ever international goal for his country on a tap-in from a corner. Left unattended at the far post, Castelletto made Serbia pay for their man-marking mistake.
Right before the end of the first half, Serbia equalized in the 45+1′. Strahinja Pavlovic found a header on a free kick by Dusan Tadic. Just two minutes later, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic’s left-foot shot from outside the box gave the Serbians a 2-1 lead.
Early on in the second half, Mitrovic would redeem himself after two earlier failed attempts. In the 53rd minute, a beautiful display of passing from the Serbians put them in control of Cameroon, 3-1.
Cameroon struck back in the 63rd minute. Vincent Aboubakar made an instant impact after being subbed on with a delightful breakaway chip shot over the head of Vanja Milinkovic-Savic.
Cameroon used the momentum from Aboubakr’s goal to tie the game in the 66th minute. Aboubakr was a factor in the play again. Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting would capitalize from a cross by Aboubakr, tying the match and giving Cameroon one point in the end.
Match Highlights
World Cup Group G: Brazil 1 – Switzerland 0
Missing Neymar due to injury, it was a closer match than expected between Brazil and Switzerland.
The Brazilians moved onto the knockout stage with their win over the Swiss. With a berth in the next round, Brazil has advanced out of the Group Stage for the 14th-straight World Cup.
Vinicius Junior was robbed by Switzerland’s Yann Sommer in the 27th minute. A long cross from Raphinha found an open Vinicius Junior on his way toward the goal, ultimately being denied by Sommer.
Vinicius Junior put Brazil on the board in the 64th minute, but his goal would be overturned by VAR due to offsides. Manchester United midfielder, Casemiro, gave Brazil a late lead in the 83rd minute. A passing play started by Vinicius Junior, then to Rodrygo, found Casemiro in the end who belted the volley past Sommer to give Brazil the lead and a win.
Match Highlights
Group G Standings
- 1st: Brazil – 6 pts
- 2nd: Switzerland – 3 pts
- 3rd: Cameroon – 1 pt
- 4th: Serbia – 1 pt
World Cup Group H: Ghana 3 – South Korea 2
Possibly the most electric match of the tournament thus far, Ghana picked up three huge points against South Korea.
Ghana started the scoring in the 24th minute from Mohammed Salisu. With a magnificent free kick from Jordan Ayew, Salisu found the loose ball and gave Ghana a 1-0 lead.
In the 34th minute, Ghana doubled its lead. Ayew once again produced a stellar assist, finding Mohammed Kudus in the box for a header. Ghana found itself in control at the end of the first half.
South Korea brought themselves back into the match in the 58th minute. Cho Gue-sung benefited from a cross from Lee Kang-in. In a match full of impressive assists, Kang-in added his name to the list. In the 61st minute, Gue-sung scored his second goal in just three minutes. Another cross of perfection, Jin-su Kim found Gue-sung for the header.
Kudus put Ghana back on top in the 68th minute. In the right spot at the right time, Kudus’s left foot gave his country the lead once again. South Korea would fight until the final whistle with multiple scoring attempts, but Ghana’s defense withheld their offensive pressure.
Match Highlights
World Cup Group H: Portugal 2 – Uruguay 0
Portugal has advanced to the knockout stages after defeating Uruguay, 2-0.
The Portuguese put pressure on Uruguay instantly. Ronaldo set up William Carvalho with an impressive shoulder pass in the third minute, but Caravalho skied his shot over the goal.
Ronaldo had an opportunity to create a scoring chance in the 18th minute from a free kick, but Uruguay’s wall deflected his attempt. Bentancur finessed his way through Portugal’s defense in the 32nd minute, but Diogo Coasta rushed out of goal to put an end to his scoring chance.
Bruno Fernandes gave the Portuguese a 1-0 lead in the 54th minute. Originally credited to Ronaldo at first, Fernandes’s finesse shot from outside the box fooled Uruguay’s keeper. It seemed that Ronaldo put his head on the ball, however, later replays showed he didn’t. A misread from Fernando Muslera put Portugal ahead.
Fernandes converted on a penalty in the 90+3′ to give himself a brace on the day. A handball that gave Portugal a penalty, ruined the momentum that Uruguay was building in the final 15 minutes of the match.
Match Highlights
Group H Standings
- 1st: Portugal – 6 pts
- 2nd: Ghana – 3 pts
- 3rd: South Korea – 1 pt
- 4th: Uruguay – 1 pt
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