Saudis frustrate Cameroon in goalless opening half (07.06.2002)
SAITAMA
A tenacious Saudi Arabia were keeping African and Olympic champions Cameroon at bay after a goalless opening half in their Group E match here on Thursday as the Africans had two efforts ruled out for offside.
The Saudis, beaten 8-0 in their opener by Germany, made five changes to face a Cameroon side hell-bent on improving on a draw in their first match against Ireland.
Cameroon almost got off to a perfect start when Spanish-based midfielder Daniel Nkome came close to winning a penalty after 17 seconds as he went tumbling in the area but Norwegian referee Terje Hauge was unimpressed.
Saudi coach Nasser Al-Johar, nicknamed Mr Fixit, was looking to do just that as he picked a five-man defence with skipper and striker Sami al-Jaber on the sidelines injured.
Abdullah Alwaked al-Shahrani did superbly to hare down the right flank and his cross was perfectly-weighted for al Dosari, but he nodded over with just Cameroon keeper Alioum Boukar to beat.
Patrick Mboma put the ball in the net for the
African and Olympic champions on 12 minutes but the former African player of the year, on target against the Irish, had strayed offside and he fell into the same trap again two minutes later.
Former Asian player of the year Nawaf al-Temyat tried a speculative effort from some 25 metres in the 21st minute but his effort flew well over.
Wome was closer at the other end for Cameroon as he sent a freekick whizzing just centimetres too high.
Mboma then headed well over from a floated pass by Geremi Njitap as Cameroon, who brought in midfielder Daniel Ngom Kome and left out Salomon Olembe for the encounter, imposed a tight grip on midfield.
Al Dosari then fell awkwardly and went off on a stretcher ten minutes before the break to be replaced by Al Hasan al Yami.
Al-Temyat should have scored on 42 minutes but rolled a right-foot low effort agonisingly wide and then was unlucky with a neat curled effort wide of Alioum Boukar`s left-hand post.p
In-between times, Lauren had a header ruled out for offside.
