India and Cameroon qualify for the Nehru Cup final
The result of the 8th match of the Nehru cup 2012, here in Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi, imparted the line-up for the final of the competition this year. Maldives needed to avoid defeat against Cameroon to have any chance of making it to the final but failed to do so even after impressive displays of attacking football helped them beat Syria and Nepal in earlier matches.
India have 7 points (same as Cameroon) from 3 games after succesful displays against Syria and Maldives and a disappointing draw against Nepal. While on the other hand, Cameroon, who have come to Delhi without Europe based players, have impressed and were clear favourites from the day their participation was confirmed. After drawing with Syria and thrashing Nepal, they needed a win against the Red Snappers to confirm their participation in the final even before their last group game versus India on 31st August.
The red snappers went down 3-1 after conceding as early as the 12th min when Kologny Merime squared it for Kingue Mpondo who volleyed it for the first goal. Maldives came back in the 26th min after they shocked The Local Lions when Ismail Easa chipped the ball over their defence to set up Adbul Ghani Akram, who made no mistake in tucking it away. Mpondo got his second on the 39 min mark with a header off a corner to make it 2-1 while Ebanga Bertin scored from the spot on the 50th min after Ashadh Ali was sent off for allegedly pulling Mpondo’s shirt and protesting with extremity.
The game ended with the same scoreline after an uneventful second half but it was enough for the fans of The Blue Tigers and The Domestic Lions who will play each other twice in a span of 3 days,i.e. on Friday for the last group game and Sunday for the Final. Both the games will kick off at 7 pm.