Nuri Sahin (right) threatens the Cameroon goal (©uefa.com)Hosts complete perfect campaign
Friday, 11 February 2005
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PrintBy Eric Asomugha at Özer Türk stadium
Two Ergin Keles strikes and an Evariste Ngollock own goal gave Turkey a victory against Cameroon that ensured the UEFA-CAF Meridian Cup hosts ended the 2005 competition with a perfect record from their four fixtures.
Ergin double
Ergin opened the scoring midway through the first half and looked to have secured the victory with his and Turkey's second nine minutes from time, his fifth goal of the tournament. However, Cameroon's Jean Baptiste Dalle halved the deficit three minutes later, and it was not until Ngollock's last-minute intervention that Turkey's win was finally secured.
Vocal support
In front of more than 3,000 partisan spectators in Kusadasi, Turkey largely controlled the game to the delight of the crowd. Metin Tekin's team made full use of the wings and looked to stretch the Cameroon defence, whose goalkeeper Blasius Otiah was called into action twice in the opening minutes.
Early opportunities
Turkey came close to making the breakthrough in the tenth minute, Nuri Sahin floating a free-kick into the area, but Ferhat Öztorun's header missed the target. Cameroon responded well and might have scored themselves soon afterwards, Andison Eyong and Georges Mandjeck combining only for Irenee Romeo Mbele to fail to connect properly with his shot.
Cool finish
The striker was made to pay for his profligacy as Ergin fired Turkey ahead in the 27th minute, outpacing the Cameroon defence and placing his shot beyond the onrushing Otiah. Cameroon suffered a second setback in the final minute of the first half as Otiah charged into a crowd of players to claim the ball. He paid for his bravery, however, as he sustained a serious-looking injury and was carried off on a stretcher, Jules Stéphane Goda coming on.
Long-range effort
Nevertheless, Cameroon began the second half in more purposeful fashion, but some poor finishing denied them an equaliser. Tekin reacted by introducing Güven Güneri and Mülayim Erdem to give his attack more of a cutting edge, and the substitution paid off nine minutes from time, Ergin rounding off a sweeping move with a fine long-range effort.
Late strikes
Cameroon quickly pulled a goal back, substitute Dalle prodding in from close range to reignite his side's hopes but, with the African team forced to commit more men forward, Turkey sealed their victory, and Cameroon's fourth defeat, in the 89th minute. Serdar Özkan right-wing free-kick was met by Ngollock, who inadvertently headed into his own net.
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