Spain, Cameroon in soccer final

Libero

Spain meet Cameroon in the soccer final of Sydney 2000. In the semi-finals on Wednesday, the former beat the United States 3-1, while the Africans came from behind to down Chile 2-1.

True, there were winners but the game has been a loser at this Olympics.

Traditionally, the Olympics have been given the boot by star players who prefer to place club above country. For upstarts, it's a wonderful opportunity to showcase skills, but the Sydney Games have been disappointing, to say the least.

The matches have been scrappy to the point of being overly physical. Once in the lead, players have been content to play out regulation time. Ditto with the Cameroon - Chile match at the MCG.

Chile went into this match as favourites. Roger Milla country, Cameroon got thus far stunning Brazil. Much was expected of these sides who place a premium on individual flair. As it turned out, it was a pedestrian match with both sides waiting to attack on the counter.

Zamarano who's dictated the fortunes of Chile was bottled up by an able Cameroon defence. Eventually, the match came into its own only in the 73rd minute, when a Gonzalez kick ricocheted via the Cameroon keeper and onto a defender to enter the net for a self goal. Chile 1 - Cameroon 0.

The crowd got interested when Cameroon struck back in the 84th minute with Mboma slotting home from a corner. With both sides meaning business towards the fag end, Contreras of Chile hacked Mboma inside the penalty area. Lauren took the kick cleanly, sending Tapia of Chile the other way.

While Cameroon stunned Chile in the last 15 minutes, Spain went one-up against USA inside 15 minutes at Sydney. Jose Mari broke free, got past several defenders and crossed for Tamudo to crash the ball into the roof of the net. Then in the 22nd minute, Angulo capitalised on a defensive lapse, wrong footed a defender and slid the ball past an advancing Friedel.

USA reduced the margin just before half-time. Angulo fouled Frankie for a penalty. Vagenas kept USA in the match by sending Aranzubia the wrong way.

On resumption, there were close calls on either side. The Barcelona FC dominated Spain settled the issue in the last five minutes, when Mari pounced on a Friedel save to find the net from hand shaking distance.

So the tiresome hunt for the soccer gold culminates with the "Indomitable Lions", Cameroon taking on Spain. Let's hope that players dazzle and the final sizzles!

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