Matt Holland celebrates after scoring
the equaliser against Cameroon |
Ireland V Cameroon - World Cup 2002
The Republic of Ireland's first match
in the 2002 World Cup finals was against Cameroon on 1st June in
Niigata's Big Swan Stadium. The stadium's name is derived from the
translucent white Teflon roof, which has been constructed to evoke
swans landing on the nearby Toyanogata lagoons.
The build up to the World Cup finals
had been less than ideal due to the major row between Republic of
Ireland manager,
Mick McCarthy
and team captain Roy
Keane during the infamous Saipan
Affair. The effects of this disruption and
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upheaval appeared to be evident in the hesitant
start made by the Irish. Cameroon had the better of the opening exchanges.
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Cameroon Take the Lead Against Ireland
It came as no surprise when the Indomitable
Lions took the lead late in the first half. Shay Given had already
made an excellent save from Samuel Eto'o in the half but wasn't
able to keep out Patrick Mboma's shot in the 40th minute. Once again
Eto'o was involved and his pull back after beating Stephen
Staunton left Mboma with a relatively comfortable scoring opportunity.
As the first half ended things looked somewhat ominous for the Republic
of Ireland.
During the half time break Mick McCarthy
withdrew Jason McAteer who had been injured in a pre-tournament
warm-up match against Japanese club side club side Sanfrecce Hiroshima.
Ironically he was injured by a player that hailed from Cameroon.
In place of McAteer the Irish manager sent out Fulham's Steve Finnan.
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Republic of Ireland Equalise Against Cameroon
in Niigata
The switch of Finnan for McAteer and some
strong words from McCarthy had the desired effect. With Finnan raiding
down the right the Irish adopted a much most positive approach. Having
secured the initiative and playing with real confidence Ireland pressed
Cameroon back. A Kevin Kilbane cross was only cleared to an advancing
Matt Holland who drove a powerful shot past Alioum Bouker into the Cameroon
net.
It was almost all Ireland after the equaliser
from Holland. The Republic continued to take the advantage in the game
and should have gone on to win the match. In the 84th minute Robbie
Keane smashed a shot off the post with the Cameroon keeper stranded.
Deep into injury time the keeper was called into action again as he brilliantly
tipped over an excellent free kick from Steven Reid.
After the poor start the Irish were grateful
to get away with a draw but in truth the Republic of Ireland should have
had three points rather that the single point from the draw.
Ireland V Cameroon Post-Match Comments
Despite some commentators and TV pundits
had written off Irish chances following the Saipan
incident. Eamon
Dunphy had even gone so far as to wear Cameroon colours in a provocative
anti-Ireland stance. Following Irish performance, particularly in the
second half, Mick McCarthy had cause to gloat yet he remained pragmatic
after the match "We'll have to play as we did in the second half
here for the whole match against Germany. I didn't think that we did as
well as we could do."
Robbie Keane said of his near-miss: "To
be honest I just hit it and hoped for the best. I thought it was in, but
it hit the post and that's the way it goes sometimes."
Captain, Steve Staunton said following
his 99th cap for Ireland "'Hopefully we're down to business now
- that's what it's all about. The important thing was not to lose the
first game and we've done that. We were stronger at the end."
World Cup 2002 - Republic of Ireland
V Cameroon Match Statistics
| |
Ireland
|
Cameroon
|
| Corners
(1st half) |
3
|
5
|
| Corners
(2nd half) |
5
|
3
|
| Fouls
committed |
9
|
12
|
| Shots
on target |
4
|
5
|
| Caught
Offside |
1
|
1
|
| Shots
Off Target |
8
|
8
|
| Woodwork
Rebounds |
1
|
0
|
| Yellow
Cards |
3
|
1
|
| Red
Cards |
0
|
0
|
| |
|
|
| Stoppage
Time |
1st Half 2 Mins
|
2nd Half 4 Mins
|
Team Line Ups
Republic of Ireland Team
Shay Given, Gary Kelly, Gary Breen, Steve Staunton (captain), Ian Harte
(Steven Reid 78), Jason McAteer (Steve Finnan 45), Matt Holland, Kevin
Kilbane, Mark Kinsella, Damien Duff, Robbie Keane.
Subs Not Used: Lee Carsley, David Connolly, Kenny Cunningham, Richard
Dunne, Alan Kelly, Dean Kiely, Clinton Morrison, Andy O'Brien, Niall Quinn.
Booked: Jason McAteer, Steve Finnan, Steven Reid. Goal Scorer:
Matt Holland 52.
Cameroon Team
Alioum, Kalla, Wome, Song, Lauren, Geremi, Eto'o, Foe, Olembe, Tchato,
Mboma (Suffo 69).
Subs Not Used: Alnoudji, Djemba-Djemba, Epalle, Job, Kameni, Kome,
Mettomo, N'Diefi, Ndo, Njanka, Songo'o. Booked: Kalla. Goal
Scorer: Mboma 39.
Match Attendance: 33,679 - Referee:
T Kamikawa from Japan.
2002 World Cup Group E Table After
First Round of Matches
|
2002 World Cup
Finals - Group E After One Match
|
| Nation |
Played
|
Won
|
Drew
|
Lost
|
Goals F
|
Goals A
|
Points
|
|
Germany
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
8
|
0
|
3
|
|
Cameroon
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
|
Republic of Ireland
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
|
Saudi Arabia
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
8
|
0
|
Ireland
Euro 88 - Irish
Squad Euro 88
Ireland v England Euro 88
- Ireland v Soviet Union
Euro 88 - Ireland v Holland
Euro 88
Ireland & 1990 World Cup Finals - Irish
Squad World Cup 1990
Ireland V England 1990 - Ireland
V Egypt 1990 - Ireland V Holland
1990
Ireland V Romania 1990 - Ireland
V Italy 1990
Ireland & 1994 World Cup
Finals - Irish
Squad World Cup 1994
Ireland V Italy 1994
- Ireland V Mexico 1994
- Ireland V Norway 1994
- Ireland V Netherlands
1994
Ireland & 2002 World Cup
Finals - 2002
World Cup Irish Squad - 2002
World Cup Irish Group Matches
Ireland V Cameroon
2002 - Ireland V Germany
2002 - Ireland
V Saudi Arabia 2002 - Ireland
V Spain 2002
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