WORLD CUP: Justice prevails as Mexico win after bad officiating

GROUP A

MEXICO 1-0 CAMEROON

FRIDAY 13TH JUNE – NATAL

Once again bad officiating marred the game but Mexico overcame having two goals wrongly chalked off to defeat Group A rivals Cameroon thanks to a Oribe Peralta goal in soaking conditions in Natal.

After last night’s atrocious refereeing antics in Sao Paulo, this game proved to be no better early on with some bad officiating. In the 11th minute, Giovanni Dos Santos volleyed home from Herrera’s cross that was incorrectly flagged as offside. The former Tottenham striker thought he had definitely scored after 35 minutes when he nodded home a corner, however, the linesman incorrectly held his flag after a Cameroon defender had flicked the ball into his path.

El Tri were on top throughout inside the wet Estadio das Nunas in Natal, and Oribe Peralta’s goal just after the hour mark was enough for them to get off to a winning start in Group A.

Just after the interval, Peralta had a great opportunity when his shot from close range was blocked by former Liverpool goalkeeper Charles Itandje. The striker made amends on 61 minutes grabbing the game’s only goal. Dos Santos blasted the ball from close range towards Itandje, which the stopper parried into the path of only for Club America striker Oribe Peralta to slam home the rebound for his ninth goal for Mexico in seven appearances.

Justice was done and Mexico left with all three points but once again the game showed the shoddy officiating that could ruin the greatest tournament on earth in the coming month.

The Mexicans are set-up well to face the test of hosts Brazil on Tuesday while Cameroon need to get points on the board against Croatia on Wednesday to prevent crashing out early.

TEAMS

MEXICO: Ochoa, Aguilar, Rodriguez, Marquez, Moreno, Layun, Herrera (Salcido 90), Vazquez, Guardado (Fabian 69), Dos Santos, Peralta (Hernandez 74).

GOALS: Peralta 61.

BOOKINGS: Moreno 57.

CAMEROON: Itandje, Djegoue (Nounkeu 46), Assou-Ekotto, Chedjou, Nkoulou, Song (Webo 79), Mbia, Eyong, Moukandjo, Choupo Moting, Eto’o.

GOALS: None.

BOOKINGS: Nounkeu 77.