CAMEROON 2-3 ENGLAND

In what was overall a disappointing tournament, the quarter-final match between Cameroon and England was one of the bright spots of the 1990 World Cup in Italy. The first African nation to reach the last eight, Cameroon were the surprise package of the tournament, an extremely talented team fancied by many to beat an English side that had scraped past Belgium in their previous match with a last minute winning goal.

After a slow start to the match, Cameroon started to take control with English goalkeeper Peter Shilton needing to be in top form to deny François Omam-Biyick and Louis-Paul M'Fede. England were reduced to counter attacks, but it was from one of these that they took the lead against the run of play after 25 minutes. Stuart Pearce crossed from the left and David Platt's downward header beat Thomas N'Kono. With the lead, England were now in command and Cameroon looked to substitute Roger Milla, who had made such an impact from the bench in earlier games against Romania and Colombia.

England held their advantage until half-time, and in time for the restart the 38-year old Milla entered the fray. Milla's entry revitalised Cameroon, and just after the hour mark he made a run into the English penalty area where he was brought down by Paul Gascoigne. Emmanuel Kunde tucked away the penalty, and Cameroon were level. England were stunned, and Cameroon tried to take advantage. Cyrille Makanaky hit the post minutes later, and in the very next attack another incisive run from Milla saw him slip the ball through to the other substitute, Eugène Ekéké, who chipped the ball over Shilton to give Cameroon the lead.

England fought back, but it was the Africans who had the chances to put the game away. Omam-Biyick missed a wonderful chance to make it 3-1, and shortly after Cameroon were made to pay. With eight minutes left, Benjamin Massing brought down Gary Lineker in the box and England had a penalty. Lineker took the kick himself, and levelled the scores at 2-2. Cameroon had missed their best chance to reach the semi-finals.

The match entered extra-time, and Cameroon again started the strongest, with Makanaky and Milla both going close, but their defensive inexperience and indiscipline was to cost them again. On the stroke of half-time in extra-time, Gascoigne played Lineker through and the combined challenge of Massing and N'Kono brought him down. England had another penalty, and Lineker again made no mistake to give his team the lead.

This time Cameroon had no answer, as they tired in the second period of extra-time, England having chances to finish the game off. England kept control and time ran out for Cameroon, who had been just minutes away from the last four. England were in their first semi-final on foreign soil, where they would miss out against West Germany in a penalty shoot-out, but no-one would ever forget the contribution of Cameroon to the 1990 World Cup finals.