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')

Half-Time Report: Ivica Olic strike hands Croatia lead over 10-man Cameroon

By Simon Sinclair, Reporter

Published: June 18 2014 | 23:49

Last updated: June 19 2014 | 00:04

Ivica Olic hands Croatia the lead at the break in their World Cup clash over 10-man Cameroon while Alex Song is given a straight red card.

Croatia lead 10-man Cameroon 1-0 at the break in their Group A World Cup clash thanks to a strike from Ivica Olic.

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

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

Croatia could have doubled their lead minutes later when Volker Finke's side struggled again to clear the ball inside their own box and 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 as Stephane Mbia wasted an opening as he blasted over from a tight angle, with better options available in the box.

Cameroon's Alex Song is shown a red card during his team's match with Croatia on June 18, 2014. © Getty Images

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 Mario Mandzukic as he attempted to raid upfield.