The final round of phase two of the World Cup gets underway Monday. With Qatar and Canada officially eliminated over the weekend, things are getting down to the wire.
On Monday, Serbia scored twice in the first half to take the lead, but Cameroon found the back of the net twice after halftime to share a point in a 3-3 draw. The result means neither team will be eliminated today.
On paper Ghana’s 3-2 win over South Korea is the second biggest upset of the tournament, but the young Ghanaian team is far more talented than calling the effort stunning.Â
Brazil takes the pitch without Neymar, who is working his way back from a sprained ankle after the opening game. And Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal face Luis Suarez and Uruguay.
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Slow start to Brazil-Switzerland, first shot comes in 27th minute
It has been a slow buildup, with both sides battling for possession in the midfield. Neither side had even attempted a single shot almost a half hour into the first half, but Brazil’s first attempt nearly resulted in a goal.Â
Rafinha swung in a left-footed cross from the right flank and found VinÃcius Júnior streaking alone into the box. VinÃcius didn’t strike the ball cleanly with his right foot, allowing Swiss keeper Yann Sommer to swat it away.
That attack opened up Brazil’s offense, leading to a succession of three shots in the span of four minutes, with two of those coming on goal. Switzerland is still awaiting its first attempt.
Mohammed Kudus said he’s as good as Neymar. That’s not looking totally nuts.
Mohammed Kudus came to this World Cup full of confidence. Two games in, it’s easy to see why.
Kudus has been one of the breakout stars in the early going, tallying an assist for Ghana in an opening loss to Portugal before scoring a pair of goals in a wild 3-2 win over South Korea on Monday.
The 22-year-old playmaker netted a first-half header to give his side a 2-0 lead. But South Korea struck back in the second half, with Cho Gue-sung scoring two quick goals to equalize.
Kudus was not done, however, and he swept home a 68th-minute goal to complete his brace and give Ghana the winner it so desperately needed after falling in its opener.
— Seth Vertelney, Pro Soccer Wire
Fans of the Seleção out in full force
DOHA, QATAR — A lot of yellow in the 974 Stadium. A lot a lot. No surprise, Brazil travels for any World Cup and they know their team has a chance to win its first World Cup title since 2002. Fans are singing and whistling before the game, and a big cheer went up when Richarlison, the hero of the opening match, was introduced.
There is nothing better than listening to Brazil’s anthem at the World Cup. The stadium, which is almost entirely yellow, is singing in full voice, ending with a huge roar and whistles.
— Nancy Armour
Brazil was the tournament favorite in large part due to their plethora of talent and the star power of Neymar. But the team can advance without him, and they are going to have to. After spraining his ankle against Serbia, Neymar will miss the final two games of the group stage.Â
AL RAYYAN — Mohammed Kudus scored twice, including the go-ahead goal after South Korea evened the match in the second half, and Ghana staved off elimination at the World Cup with a 3-2 victory on Monday.
Mohammed Salisu also scored for the Black Stars, who lost their opening match against Portugal and were in need of points for a chance to reach the knockout round in Qatar.
Down 2-0, Cho Geu-sung scored both of South Korea’s goals about three minutes apart early in the second half to even the game at 2-2.
South Korea forward Son Heung-min remained without a goal in Qatar. The Tottenham forward wore a mask to protect a broken left eye socket he sustained in a Champions League game against Marseille earlier this month.Â
— Associated Press
In a time where numerous sports leagues are trying to shorten the length of their games, FIFAÂ is adding time to its World Cup matches in record fashion.Â
There’s been an unprecedented amount of stoppage time added in Qatar. But what is the added time and how does it work? Here’s what you need to know
South Korea’s star Son Heung-min has been relatively quiet this game with two missed chances in the second half. If Korea is going to avoid losing to the lowest-ranked team in the tournament (though they don’t play like it), they’ll need him to create something.Â
This game is far from over. It’s Mohammed Kudus again for Ghana. The 22-year-old needed just one touch to get through a South Korean defender and around goalkeeper Kim Seung-Gyu.
Yes, I put two exclamation points. What a goal from Cho who has a brace and the equalizer for South Korea. Cho flew (and that is the only way to describe it) into the box to head in the equalizer, assisted by Kim Jin-su, whose cross was just as impressive.Â
South Korea pressed and pressed high. Lee Kang-In orchestrated the attack moments after subbing on. Kang-In sent a cross into the box and Cho Gue-Sung got on the end of it.
Thomas Partey almost scored a third goal in stoppage time. Ghana soared into halftime with the lead and support of the crowd.Â
Halftime stats:
- Possession: South Korea 59%, Ghana 41%
- Corner kicks: South Korea 7, Ghana 2
- Shots: South Korea 6, Ghana 3
Ghana, with its back against the wall, has taken control of the game with its young squad. Mohammed Kudus headed in a cross from Jordan Ayew to make the score 2-0.Â
While South Korea struggles with its set pieces, Ghana capitalized. Jordan Ayew won the free kick for Ghana. South Korea was caught standing, and Mohammed Salisu hit in the opening goal from short range. Needed video review for a possible handball, but the goal stands. 1-0 Ghana.Â
Checking the stats to confirm, South Korea has had SEVEN corner kicks this half. Son Heung-min has sent most of them to the front post area, which has made it difficult for South Korea to convert
AL WAKRAH, Qatar — Super sub Vincent Aboubakar scored one goal and created another as Cameroon rallied from 3-1 down to draw 3-3 with Serbia at the World Cup on Monday.
He lobbed goalkeeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic in the 64th minute and then set up striker Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting two minutes later.
The thrilling draw was the first game at the World Cup in Qatar in which both teams gave up a lead.
But the result suited neither side.
They each have one point after two Group G matches and either Brazil or Switzerland can qualify with a win when they meet later Monday. — Associated Press
The top two teams from each group move on to the knockout rounds based on points earned. But what happens if teams are tied on points after the final match?
First tiebreakers:
- Greatest number of points obtained across all group matches
- Greatest goal difference across all group matches
- Greatest number of goals scored in all group matches
Scooby Axson explains World Cup tiebreakers down to the final draw.
Ghana needs to avoid losing in order to stay in contention for the Round of 16,
After scoring the opening goal, Cameroon conceded two scores to Serbia in stoppage time of the first half. Serbia scored again out of halftime, but the Indomitable Lions were … well … indomitable.Â
Aboubakar turned the tide with his chipped goal in the 63rd minute, followed by an assist on the equalizer three minutes later. The result means neither team can be eliminated from the tournament today.
Cameroon wasn’t done yet. The first goal, Vincent Aboubakar timed his run perfectly to get on the end of a long ball from Jean-Charles Castelletto. Aboubakar made Nikola Milenkovic slip and bounced the shot over goalkeeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic and into the roof of goal. No immediate celebration due to an offside check, but the goal is giveb.
Minutes later Cameroon continued its push. This time Aboubakar saw the final pass and assisted Eric Choupo-Moting to tie the score.Â
A complete team effort, timed to near-perfection. With Cameroon goalkeeper Epassy pulled out of his area, Serbia pass around him. Mitrovic glides a ball into the back of the net, assisted by Zivkovic.
Want to watch the U.S. men’s national team return, see what’s likely Lionel Messi’s last go with Argentina and Cristiano Ronaldo with Portugal or witness France’s title-defense run? Add matches to your calendar and keep up to date with the latest tournament news.
Pushing for the first goal, Strahinja Pavlovic gets one back for Serbia with a leaping, driving header from a free kick taken by Tadic.
Cameroon just needed to get to halftime after controlling the games for much of the half. But a failed clearance by Zambo allows Sergej Milinkovic-Savic to take the ball. After a quick one-two pass with Andrija Zivkovic, Milinkovic-Savic makes it two.Â
It’s Cameroon who strikes first after Serbia is caught ball-watching on a corner kick. Jean-Charles Castelletto made the late run in behind to tap in his first international goal and put his team ahead.Â
After an early moment of injury concern, Aleksandar Mitrovic returned to the pitch and has continued his impact on attack. Assisted by Dusan Tadic, Mitrovic makes a little move, causing a Cameroon defender to slip, but his following shot bangs off the left post.Â
One noticeable change for Cameroon’s squad is the exclusion of goalkeeper André Onana. According to reporter Fabrizio Romano, Onana was left out because he “insisted for different style of goalkeeping, more ‘traditional'”
Portugal vs. Uruguay — 2 p.m.
Portugal proved its dominance over Ghana in a 3-2 win, but showed it was not immune to a silly mistake or two. Cristiano Rolando became the first man to score in five World Cup tournaments. He is the country’s all-time goal-scorer with 118 goals.Â
Uruguay, meanwhile, will look for its first victory of the tournament after a stalemate against South Korea.Â
Time:Â Sunday, Nov. 28Â at 2Â p.m. ET
Stadium:Â Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium
How to watch: FS1 and Telemundo or stream on fuboTV and Peacock (Spanish)
Brazil vs. Switzerland — 11 a.m.
Neymar left the game against Serbia in tears after injuring his ankle. The sprain will keep the Brazilian superstar out of Monday’s match against Switzerland, though he hasn’t been ruled out of the World Cup completely. Is Neymar fouled too much?
Brazil will also be without Juventus defender Danilo. The squad will rely heavily of Richarlison as they look to extend their unbeaten streak in the group stage to 17, something no other team has done.Â
Time:Â Sunday, Nov. 28Â at 11Â a.m. ET
Stadium:Â Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium
How to watch: FS1 and Telemundo or stream on fuboTV and Peacock (Spanish)
South Korea vs. Ghana — 8 a.m.
South Korea performed better than expectations, holding Luis Suarez and Uruguay to a scoreless draw. Meanwhile, Ghana also over-performed in an exciting battle against Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal. Ultimately, Portugal took all three points, but it wasn’t without some nervy moments.Â
This is the first World Cup meeting between South Korea and Ghana, though the teams have met six previous times in friendlies, splitting the wins.Â
Time:Â Sunday, Nov. 28Â at 8Â a.m. ET
Stadium:Â Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium
How to watch: FS1 and Telemundo or stream on fuboTV and Peacock (Spanish)
Cameroon vs. Serbia — 5 a.m.
Serbia is bottom of Group G after an opening match loss to Brazil, the pre-tournament favorites. Cameroon also lost its opening game to Switzerland. And both teams will be looking to avoid defeat which would likely mean an early exit from the 2022 tournament.
Serbia have not won against an African nation in its previous two meetings — in 2006 against Ivory Coast and 2010 against Ghana. Meanwhile, Cameroon seeks to avoid equaling the longest losing run by a World Cup team.Â
Time:Â Sunday, Nov. 28Â at 5 a.m. ET
Stadium:Â Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium
How to watch: FS1 and Telemundo or stream on fuboTV and Peacock (Spanish)
