2014 FIFA World Cup - Group A Day 2 Game 1 MEX VS CMR - Second Half Review

Cameroon kick off the second half after both teams were back to the pitch.

Cameroon coach Volker Finke made one half-time switch, bringing on fellow defender Nounkeu in a one-for-one swap.

NOUNKEU (in) comes off the bench to replace DJEUGOUE (out) (Cameroon)

O PERALTA (Mexico) sees his effort hit the target.

Cameroon's keeper denies an early goal for El Tri

ITANJDE (Cameroon) pulls off a save.

SONG (Cameroon) concedes a free-kick following a challenge on G DOS SANTOS (Mexico).

The rain has let up a little bit for the second half, much to the delight of fans, players and coaches alike!

Safe hands from Mexico's keeper there. A tricky deflection might have fooled others but Ochoa was up to the task.

H HERRERA (Mexico) is penalised after committing a foul.

O PERALTA (Mexico) commits a foul.

H MORENO (Mexico) concedes a free-kick following a challenge on MBIA (Cameroon).

Mexico's No15 goes into the book after taking down Stephane Mbia. Mbia looked to be clear past the defender, leaving the referee no choice.

H MORENO (Mexico) is cautioned.

Speaking of today's official, Colombia’s Wilmar Roldan, who turned 34 in January, is the youngest referee at the 2014 World Cup.

ASSOU EKOTTO (Cameroon) sees an effort go off target.

SONG (Cameroon) swings in the corner.

CHEDJOU (Cameroon) sees his effort hit the target.

H HERRERA (Mexico) pulls off a save.

It's back and forth now as both Mexico and Cameroon charge ahead, desperately looking for the opening goal.

ASSOU EKOTTO (Cameroon) is adjudged to be in an offside position.

G DOS SANTOS (Mexico) sees his effort hit the target.

ITANJDE (Cameroon) pulls off a save.

Mexico's No19 finds the back of the net after Itandje's initial save, which he did well to get a hand on to begin win. The rebound proved costly, however, and Peralta tucked it away to put El Tri in front.

O PERALTA (Mexico) scores!!

After scoring just now, Oribe Peralta is the sixth-highest trending player on our social hub. Check out who is in the top five here.

A GUARDADO (Mexico) sees his effort hit the target.

Cameroon pulls off a save.

P AGUILAR (Mexico) commits a foul.

M FABIAN (in) comes off the bench to replace A GUARDADO (out) (Mexico) 

The goal-scorer is subbed off for Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez and the crowd gives O Peralta No.19 a massive standing ovation for his performance today.

J HERNANDEZ (in) comes off the bench to replace O PERALTA (out) (Mexico)

MOUKANDJO (Cameroon) concedes a free-kick following a challenge on G DOS SANTOS (Mexico).

Cameroon's Dany Nounkeu clears the ball just in time as Marco Fabian came crashing in. That nearly caught the Cameroonians by surprise.

NOUNKEU (Cameroon) commits a foul.

NOUNKEU (Cameroon) is cautioned.

M LAYUN (Mexico) sees an effort go off target.

Dos Santos is stands over the ball as the referee adjusts the wall. His cross comes in but Cameroon clear comfortably and Mexico's long range effort goes harmlessly out for a goal kick.

The Fenerbahce forward comes on for the midfielder as coach Volker Finke looks to add some more attacking options as his side searches for an equaliser

WEBO (in) comes off the bench to replace SONG (out) (Cameroon)

ETO'O (Cameroon) sees an effort go off target.

MOUKANDJO (Cameroon) swings in the corner.

Benjamin Moukandjo's cross is cleared at the last minute by Francisco Rodriguez. Had Mexico's No2 not been there that would have likely been a certain equaliser for Cameroon.

The Indomitable Lions are not going down without a fight. Cameroon's high pressure is causing trouble for Mexico's backline, who are forced to clear as Finke's men shut down El Tri's options.

J HERNANDEZ (Mexico) commits a foul.

CHOUPO-MOTING (Cameroon) sees his effort hit the target.

R MARQUEZ (Mexico) pulls off a save.

ASSOU EKOTTO (Cameroon) is penalised after committing a foul.

MOUKANDJO (Cameroon) sees his effort hit the target.

Mexico's custodian keeps Cameroon's Moukandjo off the scoresheet with a spectacular full-stretch diving save.

G OCHOA (Mexico) pulls off a save.

ASSOU EKOTTO (Cameroon) commits a foul.

C SALCIDO (in) comes off the bench to replace H HERRERA (out) (Mexico)

J HERNANDEZ (Mexico) sees an effort go off target.

The final whistle sounds.

Thanks to Oribe Peralta's finish, Mexico have continued their unbeaten streak in their opening World Cup match, dating back to France 1998 with three wins and one draw. Meanwhile, with today's 1-0 defeat, Cameroon have become the first African to lose five consecutive World Cup matches.

2014 FIFA World Cup - Group A Day 2 Game 1 MEX VS CMR - First Half Review

Today’s game is between Mexico VS Cameroon. Man in the middle is Wilmar Roldan of Colombia. 

The weather at Estados das Dunas, Natal is at 27 °C with a wind speed of 22 min/sec with 65% humidity and it is raining, though the rain won’t stop this game.  Also the crowd of Mexico fans let out a huge roar to warm-up the stadium and cheer their teams, and so as the Cameroon’s too.  Mexico fans counted more than Cameroon supporters in the crowd.

Before we start the recap of First half, note that Cameroon go into this match on the back of four successive World Cup defeats with their last success coming against Saudi Arabia in 2002. Will the underdogs win?

Both team lined up in the tunnel and ready to walk out in the pitch.

MEX

13        G OCHOA (GK)

2          F RODRIGUEZ

4          R MARQUEZ ©

6          H HERRERA

7          M LAYUN

10        G DOS SANTOS

15        H MORENO

18        A GUARDADO

19        O PERALTA

22        P AGUILAR

23        J VAZQUEZ

CMR

16        ITANJDE (GK)

2          ASSOU EKOTTO

3          NKOULOU

4          DJEUGOUE

6          A. SONG

8          MOUKANDJO

9          ETO’O ©

13        CHOUPO-MOTING

14        CHEDJOU

17        MBIA

18        ENOH

Here’s YOUR 11 most –popular line-ups chosen by FIFA.com users:

El Tri sing passionately the “Himno Nacional Mexicano” which the crowd sings along with the rain. Cameroon’s “Chant de Ralliement” played after which.

Roldan, referee of the day, is with R RAMIREZ (Mexico) and ETO’O (Cameroon) hold captain’s meeting at the midfield.

Match kicks off by Mexico on their traditional green but was quickly turn the ball over to Cameroon.

ENOH (Cameroon) concedes a free-kick following a challenge on J VAZQUEZ (Mexico).

P AGUILAR (Mexico) does well to create some space on the right but his cross is off the mark and goes out for a goal kick.

The wet pitch has made passing slick and increased the pace of the game early on but that will likely benefit both teams, who are known to enjoy a quick style of play.

J VAZQUEZ (Mexico) commits a foul.

ENOH (Cameroon) concedes a free-kick following a challenge on A GUARDADO (Mexico).

Good build up from Mexico leads to the first chance of the match, but the shot on target was not accurate enough and gave the goalkeeper no trouble.

M LAYUN (Mexico) sees his effort hit the target.

ITANJDE (Cameroon) pulls off a save.

O PERALTA (Mexico) is adjudged to be in an offside position.

H HERRERA (Mexico) sees an effort go off target.

G DOS SANTOS (Mexico) is ruled offside.

NKOULOU (Cameroon) concedes a free-kick following a challenge on O PERALTA (Mexico).

HERRERA (Mexico) serves in a delightful ball to Mexico's No10 but the linesman had his flag up.

ASSOU EKOTTO (Cameroon) takes a corner kick.

Choupo Moting put the ball in the net but just like on the other end, the play was ruled offside.

ETO'O (Cameroon) is adjudged to be in an offside position.

SONG (Cameroon) swings in the corner.

MBIA (Cameroon) sees an effort go off target.

Cameroon have enjoyed the run of play in the past few minutes with some good looks on goal, but now Mexico are back on the front foot and leading an attack.

J VAZQUEZ (Mexico) concedes a free-kick following a challenge on SONG (Cameroon).

Eto'o gets a great look on goal and fires a shot bound for the top corner, but it misses just inches wide.

ETO'O (Cameroon) is denied by the post.

ASSOU EKOTTO (Cameroon) takes a corner kick.

CHEDJOU (Cameroon) sees an effort go off target.

Cameroon's No13 goes in recklessly and gives Mexico a dangerous free-kick.

CHOUPO-MOTING (Cameroon) is penalised after committing a foul.

R MARQUEZ (Mexico) sees an effort go off target.

ETO'O (Cameroon) is adjudged to be in an offside position.

M LAYUN (Mexico) swings in the corner.

G DOS SANTOS (Mexico) is ruled offside.

Andres Guardado sends in another great free-kick - his service has been excellent so far - but Mexico's skipper can't jump high enough to re-direct the ball on frame.

After 30 minutes the rain is coming down. The shifting of weather will make the game more interesting seeing both sides had some great attacking tactics.

ENOH (Cameroon) illegally handles the ball.

G DOS SANTOS (Mexico) illegally handles the ball.

Miguel Layun's corner is finished by Dos Santos but for the third time in the match the goal has been disallowed.

A GUARDADO (Mexico) commits a foul.

ASSOU EKOTTO (Cameroon) sees his effort hit the target.

R MARQUEZ (Mexico) pulls off a save.

Nice build-up from Mexico again, doing very well to keep possession in the pouring rain, but the final pass is cut out by Cameroon's backline.

MBIA (Cameroon) concedes a free-kick following a challenge on A GUARDADO (Mexico).

H HERRERA (Mexico) is penalised after committing a foul.

SONG (Cameroon) commits a foul.

H MORENO (Mexico) illegally handles the ball.

M LAYUN (Mexico) takes a corner kick.

Marquez sends in a cross but Peralta's diving header is wide, though the linesman's flag was raised, so had it gone in it wouldn't have counted.

O PERALTA (Mexico) is adjudged to be in an offside position.

Mexico and Cameroon will be happy to seek shelter in the dressing room during half-time and dry off, perhaps even change into a new kit. Despite the driving rain both sides had great looks on goal and nearly found the opening goal on several occasions. It will be interesting to see if the pace can be maintained throughout the final 45 minutes.

ENOH (Cameroon) sees an effort go off target.

The referee brings the first half to an end.

Check the statics below:

I will try to do my best to give updates on 2014 FIFA World Cup. 2nd half of MEX VS CMR (BRAZIL 2104) on the next post.