World Cup Soccer Recap (Italy-Cameroon)

June 17, 1998
CNN/SI

ITALY 3, CAMEROON 0

Forward Christian Vieri scored two second-half goals to provide some breathing room as Italy became the first team to win a match in Group B of the World Cup with a 3-0 victory over a dogged Cameroon squad in  Montpellier.

Luigi Di Biagio, inserted into the match as a starter by coach Cesare Maldini, tallied in the eighth minute for Italy (1-0-1 in Group B), which now sits atop Group B and can clinch a spot in the second round with a tie against Austria in its final group-play match.

After Cameroon defender Raymond Nkongo Kalla was given a direct red card and ejected for a vicious play on Di Biagio, the "Indomitable Lions" (0-1-1) stepped up their play and controlled most of the tempo in the second half despite being down a man.

But Vieri's goal in the 75th minute, a delicate 12-yard chip over Cameroon keeper Jacques Songo'o, salted away the three points for the Azurri, who took a large step closer to the second round and away from a potential second-round match with Brazil, which has already clinched Group A.

The second-place team in Group B meets the defending World Cup champions in the second round.

Cameroon gets the chance to play spoiler against Chile on June 23rd at Nantes. Italy plays Austria the same day at Saint-Denis.

Italy coach Cesare Maldini opted for a more attacking squad, inserting Di Biagio and Francesco Moriero to create scoring chances. It paid off immediately as the Azurri attacked in the early going and resulted in a 1-0 lead in the eighth minute.

Roberto Baggio, who assisted on a goal and scored the tying goal against Chile, played a short corner on the left side. He got the ball back and sent a cross to Di Biagio, who headed the ball into the right corner of the net from nine yards as Songo'o watched helplessly.

Italy continued to dominate the contest, and Pagliuca was not tested until the 32nd minute, when Samuel Ipoua put a 20-yard shot on net he easily handled.

Cameroon defender Raymond Kella Nkongo was ejected by Australian referee Edward Lennie in the 43rd minute. Di Biagio slid to play the ball at midifeld and Nkongo came in with both feet, prompting the direct red card.

But Italy looked like the team playing with 10 men for most of the second half. Cameroon defender Pierre Wome blasted a free kick wide of the right post in the 47th minute and Italy defender Alessandro Nesta had to clear a ball out of the box in the 57th minute. Pagliuca had to make a tough save on a 15-yard shot by Joseph-Desire Job, who rocketed a shot from the left side of the box.

But fatigue began to take its toll on Cameroon, as Moriero and substitute Alessandro Del Piero, who did not play in the first game, began to generate chances. The second goal finally came as Moriero passed to Vieri, who lured Songo'o off line before chipping the ball into the left side of the net.

Vieri, who is tied with Chile's Marcelo Salas for most goals thus far with three, put the exclamation point on the win in the 89th minute. A pass from Del Piero was deflected into the box, where Vieri pushed aside Wome before bouncing an eight-yard shot over Songo'o.

Lennie was kept busy as he booked six players -- four on Cameroon and two on Italy. Nkongo will miss Cameroon's match against Chile, while the other four Cameroon players -- Wome, defender Rigobert Song, midfielder Pierre Njanka and forward Didier Angibeau -- all received their first caution. It was the first yellow cards for Di Biagio and Alessandro Costacurta as well.

Cameroon held a 14-12 edge in shots and put 10 on goal to Italy's nine. Italy also committed 21 fouls and were whistled for 11 offsides as it pushed the attack every chance it could get.
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