Cameroon started with the same team that drew in the friendly against England the week before the World Cup started. Ireland started with their strongest side in the absence of Roy Keane (who had been sent home for giving abuse to the Ireland manager, Mick McCarthy).

This was certainly a "game of two halves" with Cameroon dominating for large periods in the first half before Ireland outplayed Cameroon in the second half. The match ended 1-1 with Ireland on top at the end of the game.
 

After 17 minutes of the game, Robbie Keane blasted in a long range shot but the Cameroon goalkeeper, Alioum Boukar saved easily. Samuel Eto'o then beat the Irish offside trap and forced Shay Given into a great save having closed down Eto'o.

After 21 minutes, Robbie Keane headed just wide from a short corner - eight minutes later Matt Holland headed a good chance just wide too from an Ian Harte corner.

By now Cameroon were having more possession and after half an hour Eto'o had another chance for Cameroon with a good chip that just missed Given's far post. Marc-Vivien Foe then hit a fierce shot over the crossbar from midfield.

In the 39th minute, Cameroon scored to go 1-0 up - Eto'o beat Steve Staunton on the by-line inside the box and passed to Patrick Mboma who scored from six yards out. In the first half of the match the excellent Eto'o and Mboma showed that they were much quicker than the Irish central defenders, Staunton and Gary Breen.

Just before half time, Rigobert Song almost gifted Ireland an equaliser from an Ian Harte free kick but Alioum Boukar prevented the own goal with a good save at his near post.

Whatever Mick McCarthy said to the Irish team at half time it must have worked. Steve Finnan came on for Jason McAteer on the right side but the whole team started playing well. Three minutes into the second half, Kevin Kilbane headed an Ian Harte cross wide as Ireland started to see more of the ball.

After 51 minutes however, Cameroon almost scored again - Shay Given gave the ball to left back Ian Harte but he was closed down quickly by Geremi and lost the ball to him - Geremi was now in an excellent position but just missed with his shot at the far post.
 

                      
                            Matt Holland shoots and scores for Ireland

One minute later, Ireland equalised. Kilbane crossed from the left wing and Raymond Kalla headed a weak clearance straight to Matt Holland - from outside the edge of the penalty box, Holland hit a low accurate shot just inside Alioum Boukar's right post.

After 62 minutes, a Kilbane cross was headed towards to goal by Breen and almost forced another own goal from Song - the keeper only just managed to keep the ball from crossing the goal line.

With eight minutes to go Damien Duff had a great run on the left wing before putting in his cross - the ball was cleared but only as far as Robbie Keane - from just outside the penalty box on the left side, Keane hit a curling shot which hit the far post.

After 88 minutes, Duff got a free kick when he was on another good attacking run - from the free kick substitute Steven Reid hit a drive which was the goalkeeper saved by putting the ball over the crossbar.

Ireland threatened to win the game right up to the final whistle but the game ended in a 1-1 draw. Cameroon appeared to lose their way in the second half of the game but both teams will still think that they can qualify from group E.

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