2014 FIFA World Cup
Group A
Full Time: Mexico 1-0 Cameroon
Date: 13 June 2014
Venue: Estadio das Dunas
A single goal from Oribe Peralta handed Cameroon a 1-0 defeat in rain-soaked conditions in their opening Group A, 2014 FIFA World Cup match at the Estadio das Dunas in Natal on Friday.
The result combined with Brazil's 3-1 win over Croatia on Thursday sees Mexico into second place in Group A behind Brazil while Cameroon sit in third and Croatia last.
It was a controversial opening 45 minutes with three goals disallowed by the referee, one of which should have stood.
Mexico had the first attempt on goal in the seventh minute when Miguel Layun let fly from the edge of the box, but his powerful effort was straight at the keeper who made a comfortable stop.
Four minutes later Mexico had the ball in the back of the net, but Giovani Dos Santos' goal was rightly disallowed because he was in an offside position.
In the 16th minute Cameroon also thought they had found the opener, but Eric Choupo Moting's goal was also disallowed for offside.
Samuel Eto'o should have opened the scoring five minutes later when he met a low left wing cross, but his 14-yard shot clipped the outside of the post.
Mexico came close again in the 27th minute when Rafael Marquez met a right-wing free-kick, but his ten-yard header sailed inches wide of the post.
On the half hour mark Mexico found the back of the net for the second time in the match after Dos Santos headed a flicked on corner home, but again the goal was not given as the player was wrongly adjudged offside.
Cameroon had the last say of the half when Eto'o unleashed a thunderous long range shot just wide of the target a minute before the break.
The half ended 0-0.
Mexico were on the attack from the word go in the second half and only a brilliant save from Itanjde saw Cameroon deny Peralta.
Nonetheless, the Mexicans continued to press forward and were rewarded with the opening goal just on the hour mark.
Some swift passing saw Dos Santos through on goal and his initial shot form the edge of the box was superbly saved by Itanjde, but Peralta was quickest to follow up and tucked the ball home from 12-yards out, 1-0.
Cameroon tried to fight their way back into the match, but were unable to do so and find themselves second from bottom in Group A, ahead of Croatia, but behind Brazil in first and Mexico in second.
