DOHA – Cameroon made history with a win against favourites Brazil, while Switzerland and South Korea sealed last 16 spots.
The Swiss will now face Portugal on Tuesday; with Brazil will take on South Korea the day before.
Vincent Aboubakar headed in a stoppage-time winner and was then sent off as Cameroon claimed a memorable 1-0 victory over Brazil at the World Cup, but still failed to go through to the last 16.
Switzerland advanced to the last 16 for the third tournament in a row after a 3-2 win over Serbia. Remo Freuler scored the winning goal just after half-time as the Swiss secured second place in Group G.
Cameroon’s win was the first against Brazil at the World Cup and the South American giants’ first defeat by African opposition at the finals.
With qualification already in the bag after wins over Serbia and Switzerland, Brazil still won Group G, ahead of Switzerland on goal difference, and will face Group H runners-up South Korea, who beat Portugal 2-1, in the next round.
Cameroon, whose last win at the World Cup was in 2002 against Saudi Arabia, were on the back foot for most of the match but sprung to life at the death. Aboubakar powered a header past Ederson then was sent off for collecting a second yellow for taking off his jersey in celebration.
“We dominated the match and had several chances, the only thing missing was a goal,” Brazil’s Eder Militao said.
“We should have scored but a lack of attention in one play allowed them to score. It’s frustrating considering the way we played.”
The match played out in a relatively subdued atmosphere in the cavernous Lusail Stadium, the tournament’s biggest venue, with Brazil’s reserves eager to impress but Tite’s side unable to assert their usual flair.
Ghana suffers defeat
Uruguay’s bitterly disappointed manager and players blamed penalty decisions against them for their exit from the World Cup after they beat Ghana 2-0 but were pipped to a last 16 spot by South Korea due to an inferior number of goals scored.
Luis Suarez couldn’t watch as his Uruguay team slid toward a painful World Cup exit. He put his hands in front of his eyes, and then pulled his shirt over his head. When his face emerged again, there were tears.
A late goal by Hwang Hee-chan secured South Korea a last-gasp 2-1 win over Portugal and a place in the last 16 from Group H at Uruguay’s expense because it scored more goals. After the most dramatic end to the group, Portugal advanced as group winner and South Korea clinched second.
Ghana, which came into the last set of games in second place, was also eliminated.
“It is sadness and disappointment that we feel,” said Suarez, who was playing in his last World Cup. “I was lucky enough to play my fourth World Cup, and I was thinking about my 4-year-old son, who is leaving with the image of sadness. It’s difficult, but it’s up to me to face the situation.”
When Suarez left in the 66th minute of the game, Uruguay was in a position to advance to the knockout stage for a fourth straight World Cup.
He had played key roles in both Uruguay goals by Giorgian De Arrascaeta, which came after Ghana captain Andre Ayew missed a 21st-minute penalty.
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