Robbie Fowler got a last minute equaliser in this 2-2 draw with Cameroon. England did not deserve to lose the game but did play as though they were trying to avoid any more injuries.

The England manager, Sven Goran Eriksson decided not to rest Michael Owen and he started up front as captain. Emile Heskey played on the left wing with Joe Cole on the right wing. Wes Brown was given the chance to play at right back ahead of Danny Mills. David Seaman and Ashley Cole did not play as they were carrying slight injuries and Nicky Butt, David Beckham and Kieron Dyer have not yet recovered from their longer term injuries. After the game Eriksson said that Nicky Butt could have played if it had been a more important match.

Cameroon started the match with close to their strongest side and were ahead after only five minutes. Mboma crossed from the right side of midfield to Wome unmarked on the left wing - Wome hit a looping ball over the England goalkeeper, Nigel Martyn and it hit the far post - the ball rebounded into the centre of the penalty area straight to Eto'o who volleyed it into the net to make it 1-0 to Cameroon.
 

          
       Darius Vassell scores after a pass from Scholes (right of picture)
 

After 12 minutes, England scored. After some excellent passing in midfield, Scholes threaded a ball through to Vassell in space just inside the penalty box - after one touch, Vassell shot accurately and the ball went in off the post to the goalkeepers left side.

After 20 minutes, Emile Heskey got his head to a cross and the ball went up in the air towards the crossbar - the Camereron goalkeeper (Alioum Boukar) put his hands up for the save but dropped the ball and poacher Michael Owen hit the ball into the net from one yard out - the goal was not allowed to stand, however, as Owen was offside when Heskey headed the ball.

Cameroon then had a couple of chances with Song putting the ball just wide and Mboma heading a good chance straight to Nigel Martyn. Michael Owen also had a couple more difficult chances to score in the first half but the score remained 1-1 at half time.
 

In the second half, Martyn Keown and Gareth Southgate (who was the second half Captain) came on for Rio Ferdinand and Sol Campbell in central defence. Trevor Sinclair (who had just caught a flight from England the day before) came on for Emile Heskey on the left wing, David James replaced Nigel Martyn in goal and Teddy Sheringham came on for Michael Owen in attack. Danny Mills replaced Paul Scholes but played on the right side of midfield and so Joe Cole moved to central midfield for the second half.

After 57 minutes, Southgate gave away a free kick centrally just outside the box when he handled the ball under challenge from Mboma. Geremi hit a superb free kick into the net past David James' outstretched left hand to give Cameroon a 2-1 lead. Mboma then had a good chance to increase the lead but James saved well.

After 73 minutes, Trevor Sinclair headed on an Owen Hargreaves corner at the near post and only an amazing save by the goalkeeper kept the ball out. Five minutes later Sinclair put in a cross from the left wing which Sheringham headed just wide of the far post. Cameroon had now replaced most of their starting team too.

With ten minutes remaining David James ran into Wes Brown trying to catch a cross and was lucky not to give away an embarassing goal.
 

          
      Robbie Fowler heads in the second goal for England
 

Right at the end of the game when defeat looked almost certain, England equalised again to make the final score 2-2. Wes Brown had been fouled on the right side of midfield and he hit an excellent free kick into the box - the ball bounced and came through to Teddy Sheringham - rather than try and head towards goal he headed it across the box to Robbie Fowler - as the goalkeeper came off his line, Fowler cleverly headed the ball over his head and into the net.
 

                                                                  

Who played well:  Paul Scholes was probably the best player on the pitch when he was playing in the first half. Owen Hargreaves had another strong game in central midfield and Nicky Butt (who did not play today but is just returning from injury) will be worried about his starting place for the World Cup game against Sweden. Wayne Bridge had another good game at left back and Darius Vassell got his third goal (in only his fifth game for England).

Who could have played better: Wes Brown did not have a great start to the game but improved in the second half. Both the first half goalkeeper, Nigel Martyn and the second half goalkeeper, David James made the odd mistake too.
 

Cameroon now play the Republic of Ireland in their first World Cup match on Saturday 1st June 2002 (7.30am BST - British Summer Time).

Click here to see the preview of England's first game against Sweden in the World Cup 2002 on Sunday 2nd June 2002 (10.30am BST - British Summer Time)

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Note: This England World Cup 2002 website is also available using  http://clik.to/england 

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