Rigobert Song axed Cameroon goalkeeper Andre Onana after an argument - then claimed the decision inspired his side’s stunning comeback.
Cameroon trailed Serbia 3-1 and looked to be heading out of the World Cup, until a breathtaking comeback inspired by sub Vincent Aboubakar earned them a point. Aboubakar came off the bench to score a goal of the tournament contender and keep alive Cameroon’s hopes of reaching the knockout stage.
Aboubakar produced an audacious lobbed finish - reminiscent of Karel Poborsy’s famous goal at Euro 96 - then provided the assist for the goal that earned a draw. The Indomitable Lions still have it all to do to reach the last 16, needing a win over favourites Brazil in Friday’s final group game to have any chance of progressing.
First-choice keeper Onana was dropped after a row with Cameroon coach Song, who wanted the Inter Milan keeper to change his style and take fewer risks during games.
Song said: “Andre has now been left out for disciplinary reasons. I think we needed to make that decision. It was something that had to happen and maybe it was the trigger we needed for this performance.
“In a squad you need to see discipline and if you can’t fit in with that discipline, with what’s required to be part of a squad, then you need to accept responsibility for that. We don’t question his ability - he plays for one of the top teams in Europe - but you need to ensure the team takes precedence over the individual.
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“At the moment I’ve asked him to wait and we will see if he is going to stay with us. It’s up to him," Song continued. “The squad is more important than the interests of the individual.”
Song took a gamble dropping Onana and playing the less experienced Devis Epassy, a decision that looked to have backfired when they found themselves 3-1 down.
But Cameroon’s incredible second-half comeback has given them a slim chance of staying beyond the group stage.
Cameroon took the lead in the 29th minute through Jean-Charles Castelletto, who turned the ball in at the far post. Serbia struck twice in first-half added time to go ahead, Strahinja Pavlovic heading in from a Dusan Tadic free-kick and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic adding a second two minutes later.
Mitrovic made it 3-1 eight minutes after the restart, the Fulham striker scoring from close-range after a well-worked counter-attack. Cameroon looked finished, but Aboubakar’s lob, over Serbia’s 6ft 9in keeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic, made it 3-2 in the 63rd minute.
Three minutes later, Cameroon were level, a superb counter-attack, ending with Aboubakar squaring for Eric-Maxim Choupo-Moting to apply a first-time finish.
