Date: 06-06-2002
Stage: first round
Place: SAITAMA
Running time: 112 min.
Colour: PAL
Quality: HD 1080p 50fps (9,5)
Commentary: MULTI : italian/spanish/english
My rating: *
Notes: Eto’o
MATCH SUMMARY
Thursday, 6 June 2002, 18:00
Saitama Stadium 2002, Saitama
Attendance: 52,328
Meteo: Humid, partly cloudy, 23°C
CAMEROON
Boukar Alioum
Raymond Kalla
Rigobert Song (c)
Pierre Womé
Lauren
Bill Tchato
Marc-Vivien Foe
Geremi
Daniel N’Gom Kome
Samuel Eto’o
Patrick Mboma
Coach: Winfried Schäfer (GER)
10′ Pierre Womé
46′ ↓Daniel N’Gom Kome ↑Salomon Olembe
74′ ↓Patrick Mboma ↑Pius N’Diefi
84′ ↓Pierre Womé ↑Pierre Njanka
SAUDI ARABIA
Mohammad Al-Deayea (c)
Mohammed Al-Jahani
Fouzi Al-Shehri
Hussein Sulaimani
Redah Tukar
Abdulaziz Al-Khathran
Ibrahim Al-Shahrani
Nawaf Al-Temyat
Abdullah Al-Waked
Abdullah Zubromawi
Obeid Al-Dosari
Coach: Nasser Al-Johar (KSA)
59′ Al Hasan Al-Yami
36′ ↓Obeid Al-Dosari ↑Al Hasan Al-Yami
72′ ↓Abdullah Zubromawi ↑Abdullah Jumaan Al-Dosari
86′ ↓Abdulaziz Al-Khathran ↑Mohammed Noor
Referee: Terje Hauge (NOR)
Goals:
66′ Samuel Eto’o (CMR)
Match overview
Cameroon edged past Saudi Arabia with a solitary goal from Samuel Eto’o in the second half. The Barcelona striker’s clinical finish proved decisive in a tight encounter where both teams struggled to create clear-cut chances. The victory kept Cameroon’s qualification hopes alive in Group E.
Trivia
This match marked Eto’o’s first World Cup goal, launching what would become an illustrious international career. The striker would go on to become Cameroon’s all-time leading scorer and one of Africa’s greatest football exports.

