Cameroon Held To A Goalless Draw By Japan

Cameroon and Japan played to a goalless draw in an international friendly match played at Stadion Galgenwaard in the Netherlands on Friday afternoon.

Antonio Conceiçao da Silva Oliveira named few new faces in his squad with Toko Etambi spearheading the Indomitable Lions attack in their first match in a year disrupted by novel coronavirus pandemic.

The two sides got off to a frantic pace with Nicolas Ngamaleu firing the first shot on target which was easily saved by Gonda in the Japan goal.

At the other end, Nakaya came very close to scoring as his header crashed against the upright with Cameroon goalkeeper Fabrice Ondoa well beaten.

The former Sevilla shot-stopper then produced a fine save to deny Shibasaki Gaku and the Samurai Blues were left to rue their missed chances when the home side broke the deadlock.

The Indomitable Lions gather momentum after 25 minutes and came close twice to break the deadlock but were unable to convert their chances.

After a water break midway through the half, Japan had a chance to break the deadlock at the stroke of halftime from a dead-ball situation, although Osako Yuya’s effort sailed just wide of Richard Ondoa’s upright.

Cameroon came out much stronger in the second half and nearly went ahead in the 56th minute but Tabekou’s effort from distance was kept out by the woodwork.

The frame of the goal then denied Japan in the 64th minute, as Haraguchi Genki’s deflected effort off Micheal Ngadeu and crashed onto the crossbar.

Gonda Chuichi came to Japan’s rescue in the 83rd minute, the shot-stopper came off his line and pulled off a fine save to keep out Toko Ekambi’s close-range effort.

Neither side could break the deadlock in the closing stages, with Fai Collins going close once again but he fired into the side-netting, as both sides were forced to settle for a goalless draw.