16/08/2008
Brazil knock out Cameroon with two extra-time goals

Brazil knocked former champions Cameroon out of the Beijing Olympics football tournament with a 2-0 extra time win in a rough-house quarter-final here on Saturday.

The Brazilians, five-time World Cup winners but yet to win an Olympics football gold medal, made the breakthrough in the 101st minute when Betis Sevilla forward Rafael Sobis was sent clear and chipped the 'keeper to break the deadlock.

Real Madrid's Marcelo made it safe with the second four minutes later after leadup work by AC Milan's Ronaldinho and substitute Thiago Neves.

The Brazilians now face a semi-final against either defending champions Argentina or the Netherlands in Beijing on Tuesday.

Cameroon's task was made more difficult when they were reduced to 10 men with the red-carding of Paris St Germain's Albert Baning seven minutes after halftime for a second yellow.

It was a niggly, spiteful quarter-final with a total of 13 yellow cards dished out by Slovenian referee Damir Skomina -- eight against Cameroon and five to Brazil.

But the Brazilians will not face any disciplinary repercussions ahead of their semi-final with all five players booked only on their first yellow card.

It was some measure of revenge for Brazil, who were knocked out by the Africans 2-1 at the same stage of the tournament at the Sydney Games in 2000 after extra time despite finishing the match with nine men.

"Eight years ago we lost to Cameroon with the same situation in extra time," Marcelo said. "Tonight we took revenge on them. We erased the past and now I'm confident about or next game."

Cameroon made the most of their luck going on to beat Chile 2-1 in the semi-finals with a last-minute goal and Spain in the final on a penalty shootout.

Coach Dunga said he had geared for a physical contest with Cameroon.

"It was a tough game as in every time we play against Cameroon," he said. "They had strong marking and good circulation of the ball.

"I had in mind to play two forwards in for Ronaldinho, but it ended up with a change in midfield instead."

Brazil have now scored 11 goals in four matches and have yet to concede a goal in the Beijing tournament.

"I'm a little disappointed because we played a long time 10 against 11," Cameroon coach Martin Ndtoungou said.

"From the beginning we had to substitute one player and it was not good for our players."

The opening half had few scoring chances but plenty of niggly fouls with referee Skomina handing out five yellow cards and whistling up 24 fouls.

The best scoring chance came in the 14th minute when Brazilian goalkeeper Renan finger-tipped a long-range effort from striker Gustave Bebbe over the bar.

Ronaldinho was at the heart of the Brazilian attacks and his corners were particularly dangerous as the Cameroon defence were forced to head clear.

Cameroon lost Rennes midfielder Stephane Mbia after 17 minutes with a leg injury and he made way for German-based Alain Olle.

Cameroon went a man down when Baning was sent off in the 52nd minute for his second yellow and a foul on Lucas.

Brazil pressed against the under-manned Cameroonian defence for the remainder of the half but could not breach their defence before the killer goals in the first period of extra-time.

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17.08.2008 23:29 +0400
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