Tajikistan outlasted Cameroon to win their opening match at the FIFA U-17 World Cup Brazil 2019™ thanks to a lone second-half penalty from Sharifbek Rahmatov in Vitoria on Monday.
It was a perfect way to start for the Central Asians in their first match on the world stage since 2007, while the Africans were left licking their wounds on their return after a 16-year absence.
Tajikistan showed some resolute defending and strong organisation to survive an early onslaught from a Cameroon side who dominated goalscoring opportunities. The Tajiks, who relied largely on counter-attacks, took the lead as Rahmatov converted from the penalty spot six minutes after the interval following a foul from Cameroon goalkeeper Manfred Ekoi. Tajikistan, having had a goal chalked off after a VAR review, were then reduced to ten men when Shuhrat Elmurodov was dismissed for a second cautionable offence with just under 20 minutes remaining.
By Olamide Oyetunji
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