By Walter Wilson Nana
Etame Soppo’s spectacular palming off of a penalty kick awarded to Panther of Bagangte, paved the way for Mount Cameroon F.C's qualification for the quarter-finals of the Cup of Cameroon.
The event was one of the hotly contested second leg eighth finals of the Cup of Cameroon. West Provincial D2 club, Panther of Bagangte, pulled a one-all tie with premier club, Mount Cameroon F.C of Buea.
The setting was the Molyko Sports Stadium, Wednesday, September 1. Host, Mount Cameroon F.C, qualified thanks to the away goal rule principle.
She had earlier clinched a one-nil victory over Panther a.k.a Nzui Manto, in Bagangte, in the first leg match.
The Lava Boys exuded determination to go through the eighth finals stage of the Cup race at the sixth minute of play, through number 10-shirted player, Pando, who opened scores. It was a clean header.
A Zambe-Serge-Ekambi action from the midfield motivated the scoring move.
The visitors from Bagangte shot in the equaliser at the 22nd minute, through number 9-shirted player. It was the result of a beautifully orchestrated onslaught that Soppo could not stop; a goal which instilled some extra courage into the players and technical staff of Panther.
At the 45th minute Pando failed to increase tally for Mount Cameroon F.C. A header failed to kiss Panther’s net. Seconds later, Mount Cameroon F.C’s Eyong put to real test the goalie of Panther who, however, made a brilliant save.
The second half of the game was marred by misfortunes. Mount Cameroon F.C became menacing in the opening minutes of the second half. A Mbah-Eyong duet clicked. The visitors did not give up either. Now and again, they created panic in the defence line of the host. But naivety stopped Panther from making the difference.
At the 75th minute of the match, an unfortunate scenario almost ruined the day. An assault from Mount Cameroon F.C’s defender, Simon Ebelle, almost snuffed the life out of Panther’s Allen Feugang. The latter immediately stopped breathing after being smashed in the belly by the former.
A timely intervention from Mount Cameroon F.C’s medical attendant saved Feugang. When Feugang regained his respiratory regularity, Panther’s medical assistant told The Post; “It was a cardiovascular problem.”Nursing fears about the future of one of theirs, the Panthers abandoned the match. It needed only the tact and fighting spirit of their President, Hans Njino, for them to get back to the turf.
At the 80th minute, Zambe, in a goal-mouth tussle, touched the ball with his hand, engendering a penalty for the Panthers. Taking the responsibility for Panther, number 12-shirted player kicked the ball and Soppo palmed it out.
At the last blast of the referee’s whistle, the score board read: Mount Cameroon F.C - 1, Panther of Bagangte 1. But the former sailed through to the quarter-finals.
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