Cameroon beat Maldives 3-1, set up final with India

[1]

Cameroon on Wednesday made light work of Maldives, beating the islanders 3-1, to set up a summit showdown with hosts India in the Nehru Cup football tournament here.

Kingue Mpondo was the star of the day for Cameroon as he scored twice, in the 12th and 39th minutes, to lead the Indomitable Lions into the final of the tournament in their maiden appearance.

Ebanga Bertin, who had scored a double in his team's 5-0 demolition of Nepal the other night, added to the tally when he scored from the spot in the 50th minute, after referee Mohammad Hamad awarded them a penalty for a foul committed by Ali Ashadh, who was guilty of pulling Mpondo by his shirt.

Ali was subsequently given the marching orders, which did not go down well with Maldives.

For Maldives, Abdul Akram Ghani struck the consolation goal in the 26th minute.

The win has lifted Cameroon to the top of the standings alongside India -- both have seven points from four matches with the help of two wins and a draw each.

The result has left nothing to permutations and combinations, as Maldives could not mange more than six points from their four league engagements.

Cameroon were on the money from the word go and they were rewarded for their enterprise, when Mpondo drew the first blood for his third goal of the tournament at the floodlit Jawaharlal Nehru stadium.

Coming off his double strike against whipping boys Nepal, Kologny Merime crossed from inside the box, and Mpondn completed the job slamming in a volley.