World Cup

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Attendance: 39,982

World Cup | Group Stage

Jun 18, 2014 at 11pm UK

Cameroon Cameroon
0-4
Croatia

Song (40')

FT(HT: 0-1)

Olic (11'), Perisic (48'), Mandzukic (61', 73')

Cameroon crash out of World Cup with heavy Croatia defeat

By Simon Sinclair, Reporter | 18 June 2014

Cameroon crash out of the World Cup as they lose heavily to Croatia in their Group A clash as Alex Song is sent off in the first half while Mario Mandzukic bags a brace.

Cameroon have crashed out of the World Cup at the hands of Croatia in a 4-0 defeat in Manuas as a brace from Mario Mandzukic kept Niko Kovac's side's hopes of reaching the second round alive.

Croatia's forward Mario Mandzukic (C) celebrates his goal during a Group A football match between Cameroon and Croatia in the Amazonia Arena in Manaus during the 2014 FIFA World Cup on June 18, 2014 © Getty Images

The game started evenly as both sides enjoyed spells of possession, but Kovac's side took the lead in the 11th minute when Cameroon failed to clear their lines from a cross and Ivan Perisic found Olic at the back post with a low cross to fire home.

Ivica Olic celebrates scoring Croatia's first goal against Cameroon on June 18, 2014. © Getty Images

Croatia could have doubled their lead minutes later when Volker Finke's side struggled again to clear the ball inside their own box. The ball fell to Perisic, but he could only fire over from close range.

Cameroon started to come back into the game later in the half but were unable to carve out many clear-cut opportunities, and Stephane Mbia wasted an opening as he blasted over from a tight angle with better options available in the box.

However, this brief bit of optimism was short-lived for Finke's side as just before the break they were reduced to 10 men when Alex Song was given a straight red card for an elbow on Mandzukic as he attempted to raid upfield.

After the break, Croatia doubled their lead as Perisic scored a goal of his own making when he ran the length of the pitch and into the box. The winger then blasted an effort past Charles Itanjde at his near post with a powerful strike.

Croatia's midfielder Ivan Perisic celebrates after scoring during the Group A football match between Cameroon and Croatia at The Amazonia Arena in Manaus on June 18, 2014 © Getty Images

Mandukic had the chance to put his side out of his sight when he latched on to a through-ball from Ivan Rakitic, but as he tried to lob Itanje he put his effort just wide of the post.

However, the Bayern Munich striker was not to be denied as he headed Kovac's side three goals ahead when he rose highest in the area to power an effort into the top corner from Luka Modric's cross from the left.

Mateo Kovacic of Croatia controls the ball against Stephane Mbia of Cameroon during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group A match on June 19, 2014 © Getty Images

Mandzukic doubled his tally for the game when he turned the ball in on the rebound from close range after Mateo Kovacic's effort was well saved by Itandje. Rakitic could have added a fifth late on, but he somehow missed the target after being put through by Ante Rebic.