Next up, Cameroon face Brazil in their final match in Group G, with Serbia up against Switzerland. Both teams know they must win their final match to stand a chance of qualifying for the next stage of the World Cup.
Aboubakar came off the bench to score and assist for Cameroon who came from two goals behind to draw with Serbia in a World Cup classic. It was Cameroon who opened the scoring after Mitrovic missed two opportunities, with Castelletto latching onto Tolo’s corner. However, Serbia bounced back, heading into the break with the lead after two goals in first half stoppage time. Pavlovic scored the equaliser, directing Tadic’s free-kick past Epassy before Milinkovic-Savic curled his effort into the bottom corner. Struggling after going behind, Serbia looked to have claimed all three points when Mitrovic finished off a stunning move before Song made a change. Replacing Hongla with Aboubakar, the extra striker made the difference. Getting a goal back with a delicate chip, with the 30-year-old given the goal after a VAR check, the substitute then set up the leveller two minutes later. On the right, he cut the ball to Choupo-Moting, who couldn’t have had an easier finish.
90' + 7' FULL-TIME: CAMEROON 3-3 SERBIA
90' + 5' A strike from Grujic is saved by Epassy. Both teams are going for the win after losing their opening game.
90' + 4' From a wide position, Nkoudou beats the wall with a driven attempt, but Milinkovic-Savic is there to catch the ball.
N. Milenković
Yellow Card
90' + 3' Nkoudou is brought down by Milenkovic in a crossing position, with the Serbian receiving a yellow card.
F. Đuričić
F. Kostić
90' + 2' Substitution for Serbia. Kostic is replaced by Duricic.
90' + 1' Epassy makes a big save, blocking Mitrovic's chipped attempt from inside the box. The flag goes up, but the Cameroon goalkeeper did not know that the striker went too early with his run.
90' Goals, substitutes and VAR checks means that there will be six minutes of additional time.
89' WIDE! Mitrovic has another great chance. Inside the box, Tadic finds the striker who curls it just wide of the post with a first-time effort. Epassy could only watch the ball, hoping that it would end up past the outside of his post.
87' Kostic is involved again. He gets to the ball before Bassogog on the left before curling it straight at Epassy.
86' A powerful effort from Aboubakar. Outside the box, his strike goes straight at Milinkovic-Savic, who will be thankful that the ball was not going into one of the corners.
85' Tadic is fouled inside the Cameroon half, sending a quick free-kick into the path of Kostic. With men in the middle, his cross ends up outside the box, with Cameroon back in possession.
83' Kostic continues to look lively down the left. His cross goes across the goal looking for Mitrovic, but Nkoulou is positioned well. He allows the ball to go across him and out for a goal-kick.
G. Nkoudou
B. Mbeumo
81' Substitution for Cameroon. Mbeumo is replaced by Nkoudou, who looked bright against Switzerland.
S. Gouet
F. Anguissa
81' Substitution for Cameroon in the midfield. Anguissa is replaced by Gouet.
M. Grujić
S. Milinković-Savić
79' Substitution for Serbia in the midfield. Milinkovic-Savic is replaced by Grujic.
78' Mitrovic lays the ball to Milinkovic-Savic and wants it back. Instead, the midfielder has a shot, lashing it over from outside the box.
S. Babić
M. Veljković
78' Substitution for Serbia. Veljkovic is replaced by Babic.
N. Radonjić
A. Živković
78' Substitution for Serbia. Zivkovic is replaced by Radonjic.
76' SAVE! Mitrovic had a chance to give Serbia the lead. On the right, his low effort is blocked by Epassy, who makes himself big.
73' Kostic looks for Mitrovic with a driven ball into the box, but it is lashed away.
71' Fai's deep cross is flicked away by Milenkovic.
69' There have been a couple of minutes with little action after a frantic few from Cameroon that got them back in the game.
C. Bassogog
K. Toko Ekambi
67' Substitution for Cameroon. Ekambi is replaced by Bassogog, who is already on a yellow card.
G. Ondoua
P. Kunde
67' Substitution for Cameroon. Kunde is replaced by Ondoua.
V. Aboubakar
Assist
66' Aboubakar gets the assist after scoring moments ago. He could have gone alone on the right, but picks the unselfish option, finding an unmarked Choupo-Moting on the left. Aboubakar is the first African player (since 1966) to both score and assist as a substitute in a World Cup game.
E. Choupo-Moting
Goal
66' GOAAALLLLL! CHOUPO-MOTING SCORES! 3-3! What a moment for Cameroon. Since coming on, Aboubakar has changed the game. Scoring a couple of minutes ago, this time he turns provider. On the right, he slides the ball across to Choupo-Moting who slams it in from close range.
J. Castelletto
Assist
65' Castelletto gets the assist after a direct pass, adding to his earlier goal. The defender finds Aboubakar, who beats one defender before looping it over the goalkeeper.
V. Aboubakar
Goal
64' GOAALLLL! ABOUBAKAR SCORES! 3-2 SERBIA! Cameroon have a goal back after VAR deems that Aboubakar is onside. He chips it over the goalkeeper and into the net. His run is perfect, getting on the end of Castelletto's long ball before a delicate finish.
64' OFFSIDE! Cameroon have the ball in the net, but the flag goes up. Aboubakar is one-on-one with the goalkeeper, chipping it over Milinkovic-Savic. However, it will be checked. VAR are on it.
62' Ekambi has a shot. He ignores Choupo-Moting, with his attempt rolling into the gloves of Milinkovic-Savic.
61' On as a substitute, Aboubakar does well in the box, beating two defenders before the ball rolls to Mbeumo. He then crosses it in, but his attempt is cleared away.
59' Cameroon have won just one of their 15 World Cup matches against European opponents (D5 L9), a 2-1 win over Romania in 1990. They are winless in 12 games since (D3 L9), with Song playing in six of those winless games and managing them in MD1’s 1-0 defeat to Switzerland.
57' A fantastic cross from Mbeumo. His curling free-kick looks for Choupo-Moting who misses the ball by an inch. Goal-kick to Serbia.
S. Mitrović
S. Pavlović
56' Substitution for Serbia. Pavlovic is replaced by Mitrovic.
V. Aboubakar
M. Hongla
55' Substitution for Cameroon. Hongla is replaced by Aboubakar.
A. Živković
Assist
54' Zivkovic is unslelfish. He could have taken a shot from the right, especially after cutting inside, but the winger finds Mitrovic who couldn't have had an easier finish. Serbia have scored with all three of their shots on target this game.
A. Mitrović
Goal
53' WHAT A GOAL FROM MITROVIC! 3-1 SERBIA! Mitrovic may have scored from close range, but the passing move was exceptional! Moving into Cameroon’s defensive third. Tadic finds Mitrovic who lays it down the left. The ball is then cut to Milinkovic-Savic, who switches it out to Zivkovic. Cutting inside, the winger then slides it to Mitrovic who puts it in from close range.
50' Now it is Tadic who is offside. The former Southampton man finds Milinkovic-Savic with a pass across the outskirts of the box, with the scorer having his attempt blocked. However, Tadic strayed into an offside position when receiving a direct pass.
49' Tadic lays a pass into Zivkovic, but the flag goes up. The Serbian winger made his run too early, bursting down the left of the box.
48' Neither side have been able to control the ball in the opening few minutes. Both have elected to go long with their passes, giving it straight back to the opposition.
46' Serbia get the second half underway.
Cameroon scored against the run of play, but have still impressed in the opening 45 minutes. With their attacking trio of Mbeumo, Choupo-Moting and Ekambi quiet, it has been Kunde who has led the attack at times. Starting today after being on the bench for the opening game of the World Cup, the midfielder has driven forward with the ball and has had two shots on target. For Serbia, they should have taken the lead before Cameroon netted the opener. Mitrovic had two chances from close range, so will be thankful that Pavlovic and Milinkovic-Savic scored to give Serbia the advantage in the game. Tadic and Zivkovic have been the main creators for their side, regularly picking up the ball inside Cameroon's defensive third, looking to unlock a resistant defence.
Cameroon looked certain to be heading into half-time with the lead before stoppage-time goals from Pavlovic and Milinkovic-Savic turned the score in Serbia’s favour. After Mitrovic missed two golden opportunities, it was Song’s side that broke the deadlock. It came through Castelletto, who arrived at the back-post to slam Tolo’s corner into the net from close range. Kunde then had an attempt saved before Serbia netted twice in quick succession. Pavlovic scored the equaliser, heading in Tadic’s deep free-kick before Milinkovic-Savic curled in a superb second from outside the box.
45' + 8' HALF-TIME: CAMEROON 1-2 SERBIA
45' + 5' Tadic slides the ball towards Mitrovic who breaks through the middle of the pitch, but his attempt is deflected wide.
L. Jović
Yellow Card
45' + 4' Jovic is not on the pitch but has received a yellow card. Similar to Bassogog, he is booked for excessive celebrations.
A. Živković
Assist
45' + 3' Zivkovic holds onto the ball, assessing his options before laying it off to Milinkovic-Savic with a short pass. Going low, the Serbian whips a low attempt past Epassy.
S. Milinković-Savić
Goal
45' + 3' GOAAALLLL! SERBIA TAKE THE LEAD! 2-1! Serbia have turned the game around at the end of the first half. Zivkovic is the creator, passing it towards Milinkovic-Savic outside the box. On the edge, the midfielder whips the ball into the bottom corner.
D. Tadić
Assist
45' + 1' Tadic's free-kick is perfect. He finds Pavlovic with an accurate free-kick, with the defender heading the ball across the goalkeeper and into the net.
S. Pavlović
Goal
45' + 1' GOAALLLLL! SERBIA SCORE! 1-1! It’s a simple goal from Serbia, but they will not care! Tadic’s dinks a deep free-kick towards Pavlovic. He losses Anguissa, jumping the highest to head it past Epassy.
45' There will be six minutes of additional time.
43' SAVE AND WIDE! Two chances for Kunde in a matter of seconds. Driving forward with the ball, the midfielder ignores the options around him, drilling his attempt straight at the goalkeeper. It comes back to him, but Kunde lashes the rebound wide.
42' Tadic chips the ball over the top of the Cameroon defence towards Kostic. Down the left, he tries to slam it across to Mitrovic, but it is cleared away.
40' Serbia have lost both of their World Cup games as an independent nation against African sides, doing so against Ivory Coast in 2006 (2-3) and Ghana in 2010 (0-1). They will have to score today to avoid a third consecutive defeat.
38' Serbia have men in the box with Mitrovic on the outskirts. Moving inside, his throughball is smashed away.
36' Fai bursts from his right-back position into Serbia's defensive third, crossing over the head of everyone and away from danger.
33' Tadic's high cross looks for Mitrovic in the box. Bursting off his line, Epassy gets there first, collecting it on the second attempt.
31' Each of Cameroon's last three World Cup goals have come via set pieces (two corners and one penalty), as many as in their first 16 goals in the competition (one penalty, one throw-in and one free-kick).
C. Bassogog
Yellow Card
30' Bassogog is not on the pitch but has received a yellow card. His celebration was deemed excessive by the referee. Bassogog, as well as a lot of other substitutes, ran across the pitch to join the celebrations.
J. Castelletto
Goal
29' GOAAALLLLLL! CASTELLETTO SCORES! 1-0 CAMEROON! A brilliant moment for Cameroon who cannot contain their excitement. From a corner, Tolo’s cross is flicked towards the defender who couldn’t have had an easier finish from close range.
27' Castelletto is unhappy. He believes he was fouled by Mitrovic with the pair both jumping for the ball. The referee allows the game to continue with Tadic bursting forward, but nothing comes of the attack.
26' Kostic's low cross from the left is cleared away.
N. Nkoulou
Yellow Card
24' Nkoulou is booked after palming Zivkovic in the face just outside the box.
21' Zivkovic receives the ball on the right, with the Cameroon defenders expecting the winger to curl it into the box. Instead, he holds on to it before sliding a pass towards Maksimovic. Stretching, he cannot control the ball in the box, with the Cameroon defence clearing it out for a corner.
19' Milinkovic-Savic is tested for the first time. On the right of the Serbia box, Kunde strikes a bouncing ball, with his powerful effort pushed wide.
18' On the right, Mbeumo cuts inside, whipping the ball across the box. With men in the middle, nobody rushes towards it, with his cross going out for a goal-kick.
17' CLOSE! The ball bobbles around the box, with Tolo clearing the ball straight to Mitrovic inside the box. From close range, the striker lashes his effort wide.
16' Nkoulou shoots from outside the box, but his wild effort goes well wide.
15' Hongla is back on the pitch.
14' Cameroon are averaging just 0.8 goals per game at the World Cup (18 goals in 24 games), the lowest goals-per-game ratio of any nation to play at least 20 games in the competition. They’ve failed to score in five of their last eight games at the World Cup, scoring just three times. They are yet to have a shot against Serbia.
12' Hongla has only got one boot on. Kostic steps on the back of his foot, with the Cameroon man on the floor and receiving treatment.
10' POST! Mitrovic almost scores the opener. Inside the box, he plays a smart one-two with Tadic, breaking free down the right of the box. Cutting the ball onto his left foot, the Fulham striker smashes the post from a tight angle.
8' The ball has been trapped in the middle of the pitch for most of the opening eight minutes. There have been a lot of loose passes from either side. However, it is Serbia who have been the better side so far.
6' The ball is curled towards Mitrovic who heads it well over the bar. Epassy did not look worried in the Cameroon goal.
5' Ekambi wins the ball in Serbia's defensive third, looking for options in the middle from the left. He picks out Anguissa, but the midfielder fails to get it out of his feet and is tackled.
4' Tadic is making his 93rd appearance for Serbia today, only two players have made more appearances for Serbia since 2006, when they started playing as an independent nation (Aleksandar Kolarov with 94 and Branislav Ivanovic with 105).
2' Mitrovic is back on his feet and will continue. Large cheers come from the Serbian fans who would have been concerned when the striker went down.
1' An early injury for Mitrovic after colliding with Hongla. He is receiving treatment.
1' Serbia get this World Cup clash under way.
This is the first meeting between Cameroon and Serbia in all competitions since a 4-3 friendly win for the Serbs in June 2010.
As for Serbia, Dragan Stojkovic makes two alterations to the team that was beaten by Brazil. Brought on as a substitute in the previous match, Maksimovic comes in for Gudelj in the midfield. There is also a swap at left wing, with Kostic replacing Mladenovic.
Cameroon make two changes to the side that lost to Switzerland last time out. Not in the squad, goalkeeper Andre Onana is replaced by Epassy. The other switch comes in the middle of the midfield, with Kunde starting ahead of Gouet who drops to the bench.
SERBIA SUBS: Marko Dmitrovic, Predrag Rajkovic, Strahinja Erakovic, Nemanja Radonjic, Nemanja Gudelj, Luka Jovic, Stefan Mitrovic, Srdjan Babic, Dusan Vlahovic, Uros Racic, Filip Djuricic, Darko Lazovic, Ivan Ilic, Filip Mladenovic, Marko Grujic.
SERBIA (3-4-2-1): Vanja Milinkovic-Savic; Nikola Milenkovic, Milos Veljkovic, Strahinja Pavlovic; Andrija Zivkovic, Sasa Lukic, Nemanja Maksimovic, Filip Kostic; Dusan Tadic, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic; Aleksandar Mitrovic.
CAMEROON SUBS: Simon Ngapandouetnbu, Jerome Ngom Mbekeli, Christopher Wooh, Gael Ondoua, Moumi Ngamaleu, Georges-Kevin Nkoudou, Jean-Pierre Nsame, Vincent Aboubakar, Christian Bassogog, Samuel Oum Gouet, Olivier Mbaizo, Olivier Ntcham, Enzo Ebosse, Souaibou Marou.
CAMEROON (4-3-3): Devis Epassy; Collins Fai, Jean-Charles Castelletto, Nicolas Nkoulou, Nouhou Tolo; Frank Anguissa, Pierre Kunde, Martin Hongla; Bryan Mbeumo, Eric Choupo-Moting, Karl Toko-Ekambi.
Serbia also lost their first match in Group G, with tournament favourites Brazil claiming all three points. With the game goalless at half-time, a brace from Richarlison, including a superb second strike, gave Tite's side the win. Bottom of the group, Serbia have also struggled at the World Cup. Going out at the group stage in their last three appearances in the competition, Serbia have lost eight of their 10 World Cup games as an independent nation (80 per cent), the highest loss percentage of any side to have played at least 10 games in the competition.
Cameroon opened their World Cup campaign with a narrow defeat against Switzerland. Breel Embolo scored the only goal, with the striker netting three minutes after half-time. It came after Cameroon had been the better side in the match, with Rigobert Song's side now needing to avoid defeat to remain in the competition and steer clear of an unwanted record. Losing their last eight games at the World Cup, with those defeats coming across four tournaments (2002, 2010, 2014 and 2022), a defeat here would equal the longest-ever losing run by a nation at the World Cup, set by Mexico between 1930 and 1958 (nine in a row).
Hello and welcome to live coverage of today's World Cup Group G clash between Cameroon and Serbia.
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