Pluck of the Irish

Ireland battles back for 1-1 draw with Cameroon

Matt Holland leveled the score for Ireland. Stu Forster/Getty Images

NIIGATA, Japan (AP) -- Matt Holland scored a 52nd-minute equalizer as Ireland rallied from a first-half strike by Patrick Mboma to earn a 1-1 tie with Cameroon in the opening game of World Cup Group E on Saturday.

Holland pounced on a poor clearance from defender Raymond Kalla and scored from 25-meters (yard) to the right of diving Cameroon 'keeper Boukar Alioum.

Cameroon took the lead in the 39th minute when Samuel Etoo broke down the right side, skipped around Steve Staunton and cut the ball back to Mboma, who scored from eight meters (yards).

Ireland played without captain Roy Keane, who was sent home last week after a dispute with coach Mick Mcarthy.

"We had a lot of chances in the second half. We got one back but we couldn't get the winner. But it was a good performance nonetheless," Holland said.

Ireland 1, Cameroon 1 Match Summary

Describing his goal, Holland said: "It came to me. I've scored a couple like that in the qualifiying campaign so it was nice to get one like that now that we're here. Hopefully it will stand us in good stead. There are two more games to go. It was a crucial result today that we didn't get beat."

Ireland faces Germany next on June 5.

Cameroon, which is seeking to become the first African country to reach the semifinals of the World Cup, now faces a must-win situation against Saudi Arabia on June 6.

Stat Summary Ireland     Cameroon  1  Goals  1  10  Shots  10  5  Shots on target  3  9  Fouls  14  8  Corner kicks  8  2  Free kicks  0  0  Penalty kicks  0  1  Offsides  1  0  Own goals  0  3  Yellow cards  1  0  Red cards  0  47%  Ball possession  53%  23  Actual playing time  26     Attendance: 33,679

"We're unsure whether to be happy or unhappy about this draw with Ireland," Mboma said. "We had a 1-0 lead in the first half and gave it up but still, Ireland is a strong team.

"In any case, we must now score three points in our next match. We have to get over this."

Following its 1990 debut where the team reached the quarterfinals, Cameroon has crashed out of the opening round in its last two appearances in the United States and France.

"We don't want to be repeating that," Mboma said with a wry smile.

Cameroon looked more dangerous in the first half in a match that improved as it went on.

Etoo came close in the 19th, collecting a through-pass from Mboma, racing through on goal and sending in a shot that Ireland keeper Shay Given did well to turn wide.

Ireland's first chance came after 22 minutes when Robbie Keane's header went inches wide of the post. A minute before half time, McCarthy's side came close again when Cameroon defender Rigobert Song almost poked the ball into his own goal following an Irish free-kick.

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The second half was more equal.

After four minutes, Ian Harte broke down the left flank and whipped in a cross that Kevin Kilbane sent inches wide.

In the 52nd, Cameroon was on the attack as Geremi stole the ball off Harte outside the area, advanced a few strides and clipped his shot just the wrong side of the right post.

Ireland scored the equalizer seconds later.

Song almost bundled the ball over his own line for the second time around the hour mark. Moments later, Etoo threatened again, racing clear of the Irish defense before slicing his shot wide of the right post from the edge of the area.

But it was the Irish who almost grabbed a late winner. The ball dropped to Leeds United midfielder Robbie Keane, who glanced up before curling a 22-meter shot onto the base of the right post.

"We played well the opening half and I don't know what happened the second," Mboma said. "Maybe fatigue from our long trip to Japan, and there was also a lack of concentration at times. We need to turn this around."

Cameroon's buildup to the finals was been hampered by pay disputes and air travel delays -- meaning the team arrived five days late in Japan.

In Group E's other game Saturday, Germany and Saudi Arabia played in Saporro, Japan.

Teams:

Ireland: 1-Shay Given, 3-Ian Harte (21-Steven Reid, 72), 5-Steve Staunton, 7-Jason Mcateer (2-Steve Finnan, 46), 8-Matt Holland, 9-Damien Duff, 10-Robbie Keane, 11-Kevin Kilbane, 12-Mark Kinsella, 14-Gary Breen, 18-Garry Kelly.

Cameroon: 1-Boukar Alioum, 2-Bill Tchato, 3-Pierre Wome, 4-Rigobert Song, 5-Raymond Kalla, 8-Geremi, 9-Samuel Etoo, 10-Patrick Mboma (Patrick Suffo, 68), 12-Lauren, 17-Marc-Vivien Foe, 20-Salomon Olembe.

Referee: Toru Kamikawa (Japan)

 

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The Associated Press contributed to this report.