Two goals in as many minutes from supersub Gabrielle Aboudi Onguene secured Cameroon a play-off against Portugal on Thursday, as the Africans ended Thailand's FIFA Women's World Cup Finals dreams by a 2-0 scoreline at Waikato Stadium on February 18. 'Twas a lively affair early doors between two nations which contested the 2019 Finals in France, a match which would leave hopes of back-to-back Finals appearances in tatters and tears for one of these teams, such was the unkindness of the draw. "The Indomitable Lionesses" threatened first, impressively performed Thailand goalkeeper Waraporn Boonsing intercepting a Charlene Meyong cross intended for Michaela Abam in just the fourth minute of play. Thailand responded two minutes later, Taneekam Dangda's early snapshot flying past Ange Bawou's left-hand post. A further seven minutes elapsed before Saowalak Pengngam was prevented from capitalising on a Bawou blunder by the imperious Estelle Johnson, who superbly marshalled Cameroon's rearguard throughout proceedings - she needed to, as Bawou, it's fair to say, didn't exactly inspire confidence among those in front of her. Boonsing was soon in action again, saving at the feet of Claudine Meffometou before finding herself right behind a twenty-yarder from Colette Ndzana, moments after both Waunee Phetwiset and Panitha Jeeratanapavibul blocked attempts from Ajara Nchout and Ndzana as the Cameroonians assumed the ascendancy in the contest. Boonsing - she was superb in the air throughout proceedings - was called upon once more on the half-hour, Nchout denied by the 'keeper's save at her feet as she looked to latch onto Abam's through ball. And five minutes before half-time, Thailand's 'keeper flew to her right to keep out a piledriver from Jeannette Yango. Cameroon continued to press, and struck the bar within sixty seconds of Boonsing's latest denial, Meyong the player most frustrated at the end of an attack which also featured Nchout and Abam. 'Twas the last-mentioned who combined with Yango in the 42nd minute, Abam taking the ball round Boomsing before firing wildly while off balance. Thailand offered little as an attacking threat throughout the first half, but fired the last shot in anger in first half stoppage time, Bawou spilling a Dangda cross. Fortunately for the 'keeper, the incoming figure of Pengngam over-ran the ball, but that didn't stop her team-mates giving Bawou a right earful prior to heading to the dressing rooms at half-time. The pattern of play continued into the second spell, Thailand struggling to make any headway as Cameroon enjoyed the lion's share of possession. They produced a lovely move in the 51st minute, Abam working her way in off the right before picking out Nchout, whose super lay-off invited Yango to lash a volley narrowly past the post. Three minutes before the hour mark, Boonsing made her first error of the day, failing to clear her lines from a Meyong cross. This presented Abam with an opportunity to break the deadlock, but it was at the feet of Nchout where Thailand's number one made amends to ensure the score remained 0-0. A rare threat of a Thailand goal materialised on the hour, with a Silawan Intamee volley being blocked by the hand of Brigitte Omboudou, who was fortunate she was outside the penalty area when the offence occurred. Intamee and captain Nipawan Panyosuk stood over the set-piece, and it was the latter who was inches astray with her attempt from twenty yards. Cameroon's pursuit of a goal intensified as the match moved into its final quarter. Yango's shot through a crowded goalmouth deflected to safety, while Irravadee Makris' vital block diverted Abam's 69th minute drive narrowly past the post. From the resulting corner, another Abam shot deflected to safety off Jeeratanapavibul, but did it do so off her hand? Video Assistant Referee evidence proved inconclusive, but the time it took to establish this contributed to the chaotic ending to this contest, which saw a staggering 24 minutes of stoppage time take place before the final whistle

was eventually blown. There were numerous other contributing factors, of course, substitutions and treatment for injuries chief amongst them. And an in-game incident which reduced Cameroon to ten players, about which, more shortly. For by the time that materialised, "The Indomitable Lionesses" were two goals to the good, both of them scored by experienced substitute Gabrielle Aboudi Onguene. Five minutes after coming on as a 74th minute replacement, she broke the deadlock with a tap-in to cap off a move which revolved heavily around the determination of Nchout. Meffometou played a clever ball forward for the striker to exploit, but Jeeratanapavibul had a head start in the battle for possession. Nchout wasn't settling for second-best on this occasion, however, and forced her way past the defender before setting up the deadlock-breakin goal. Two minutes later, Thailand's hopes of Women's World Cup glory were well and truly dashed by a lovely goal. Meyong's angled pass picked out Aboudi Onguene, who deftly skipped past two opponents before steering an angled shot from the edge of the penalty area across Boonsing and into the far corner of the net - 2-0. With the game drawing to its conclusion, Aboudi Onguene created more mayhem on the left early in stoppage time before a twenty-yarder from Nchout was turned round the post by Boonsing. The resulting corner was cleared, and Thai substitute Jiraporn Mongkoldee pursued it in the hope of securing a consolation goal for her country. What happened next brought back memories of one of the worst injury incidents ever seen at any FIFA World Cup Finals, the infamous collision of Toni Schumacher and Patrick Battiston in the 1982 semi-final between France and West Germany. Bawou came charging out of her penalty area, missed the ball entirely but certainly didn't miss Mongkoldee - a completely bonkers moment in a match which hadn't even hinted at any nastiness throughout a competitive ninety minutes. The 'keeper simply had to see red for this - common sense alone decreed that it was a sending-off offence. VAR, of course, has to have its tuppence ha'penny worth in such instances, and an eternity was taken before referee Melissa Borjas was finally given guidance to say "You may brandish the red card if you so choose". Cue a further delay, as Cameroon had already used their full quota of substitutes. One of them, Tatiana Ewodo Ekogo, donned the gloves - and eventually a goalkeeper's jersey - before play could finally resume, some ten minutes after the incident which caused all this carry-on. Thankfully, Mongkoldee was fit enough to continue, but wasted her chance to gain sweet revenge by firing the free-kick into the defensive wall. Nonetheless, Thailand had numerical superiority, and looked to make it pay in however many minutes were remaining - no one seemed to have a clue, not even the officials! Ewodo Ekogo spilled a cross from Panyosuk, then fumbled a long-range effort from substitute Ploychompoo Somnuek as Thailand piled on the pressure in search of a goal. But it proved elusive, and once Panyosuk was carried off - a victim of cramp, the game was up for the Asian team. Cameroon duly celebrated securing a play-off against Portugal on Thursday to determine which nation will be returning to this area of the world in five months' time. Thailand, meanwhile, will conclude their campaign with a friendly against Senegal at Waikato Stadium on Tuesday evening. Cameroon:     Bawou; Meffometou, Omboudou, Johnson, Ndzana; Meyong (booked, 48) (Ngo Mbeleck, 90), Ngock (Dabda, 86), Yango, Awona; Abam (Aboudi Onguene, 74), Nchout (Ewodo Ekogo, 90) Thailand:     Boonsing; Waenngoen, Saenkhun, Jeeratanapavibul, Rodthong (Somnuek, 88); Phetwiset (booked, 22) (Philawan, 85), Panyosuk (booked, 55), Makris, Intamee (Aupachai, 85); Dangda (Jinantuya, 66), Pengngam (Mongkoldee, 66) Referee:     Melissa Borjas (Honduras)