Maxim Choupo-Moting’ brace and Karl Toko Ekambi goal handed Cameroon a 3-1 victory over Mozambique in Douala to cement their hold on second spot in Group D of the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

The Indomitable Lions moved to six points, one behind group leaders Côte d’Ivoire who had earlier beaten Malawi 3-0.

Mozambique scored a consolation through Geny Catamo, but also had to finish the match with 10 men after Danilo Muze was sent off for a second bookable offense with three minutes of regulation time left.

Choupo Moting broke the deadlock in the 29th minute with a powerful header into the bottom left corner after rising unmarked at the back post to connect to a Martin Hongla cross from the right.

The Bayern Munich striker had been the biggest threat all evening and had come close in the 15th minute when he intercepted a poorly defended ball but his flick over the keeper went just wide.

The striker then doubled his and Cameroon’s tally seven minutes after the restart with another brilliant header, bouncing the ball beyond the keeper from a corner.

Mozambique were punished immediately after they lost a golden chance on the other end. The Cameroonian backline failed to read a long ball into their half and Dayo Antonio ran into it. However, his attempt to lob the ball over the keeper was awry and immediately they were hit on the counter.

Ten minutes later, Cameroon cemented their lead when Ekambi headed home brilliantly from the edge of the six yard box from Nicolas Ngamaleu’s delivery from a short corner.

Ekambi had made amends almost immediately after missing a chance when Ngamaleu’s cross from the left found him unmarked inside the box. Stephane Bahoken should have sealed the game with a fourth goal, but he failed to tap the ball into an empty net from close range.

Mozambique pulled a goal back through Catamo, but it was never enough to turn the game around.

Soka25east.com