ST. PETERSBURG, Russia -- Four-and-a-half months ago, Vincent Aboubakar caused shockwaves by volleying a marvellous winner to give Cameroon an unlikely Africa Cup of Nations title in Gabon. It was a goal from nothing, the kind of bolt from the blue that bears replaying for years. Faced with a much simpler chance in St. Petersburg, after 56 minutes and with his side a goal up against Australia, he blazed a shot off-target from in front of the posts. With that opportunity, his country's Confederations Cup hopes might have gone begging, too.
Such is the way football works that Australia went upfield minutes later and won a penalty through the impressive left-wing-back Alex Gersbach, which was promptly converted by Mark Milligan. They had only created a handful of openings and would surely have been finished had Aboubakar been sharper. Instead, they clawed back a 1-1 draw, but it is a result that leaves both teams' hopes of progress to the last four hanging by a thread.
Both coaches seemed well aware of the missed opportunity in their postmatch news conferences, preferring to stress the developmental nature of this competition, something that isn't what the organisers wish to hear but is inarguably true.
Ange Postecoglou, whose Australia side faces a crucial World Cup qualifier this August, said it was "a bit of a test run for what happens in 12 months' time." Cameroon's Hugo Broos has a decisive doubleheader with Nigeria to concern himself with and admitted that at this stage of his team's development, "it's important to get good results but more important to get good performances." There was little detectable optimism that either side might reach the last four, though it would take only Cameroon defeating Germany, or a win for Australia over Chile, for things to be blown wide-open again on Sunday.
If performances really are the measure, then Broos, who also saw Aboubakar miss two slightly harder chances after Milligan's equaliser, had reason to be marginally the happier. Cameroon were brisk, bright and should have won the game; Christian Bassogog was a reliable threat on the right wing, while their goal scorer Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa, of Marseille, deserved the man of the match award for his midfield performance.
Australia, equally positive but finding their high defensive line frequently exposed, manoeuvred the ball smartly without ever really clicking, and centre-forward Tomi Juric made a glaring miss of his own shortly after the break. Gersbach, a 20-year-old who plays for Norwegian club Rosenborg, looks a genuine prospect and caused problems beyond winning the penalty, thanks to some dangerous deliveries from the flank.
"Alex played really well tonight," said Postecoglou. "He's got great technique, great composure and did well for the penalty." Postecoglou thinks his young side can grow together over the next "five or six years," and that felt like his strong priority this summer in Russia.
Once the positives are mulled over, the harsher truth was that both sides lacked quality at either end of the pitch, and that more than anything else is why they will probably both be heading home on Monday.
When questioned at length by a Cameroonian journalist about his side's shortcomings in front of goal, Broos explained tetchily that he was working with the best materials available. "We're searching, but it's difficult to find a striker who can score goals," he said. "If you have a name then give it to me. Cameroon is not so wealthy in that area.
"You don't think that just because you won AFCON you're going to win the Confederations Cup -- that's not how it works. This team is growing and tomorrow, if I can find a striker who can score with his eyes closed, then don't worry, I will have him in my team."
It is slightly harsh on Aboubakar, who scored an AFCON 2019 qualifying winner against Morocco only 12 days earlier, but the point is more about strength in depth. Cameroon have little in attack and must urgently find the firepower to overcome Nigeria, who sit four points ahead of them in the race for Russia 2018.
Whether in hope rather than expectation, both teams now prepare for the group deciders. This was the match each had identified as the one to win; now something unexpected must drop for them. Cameroon, who were enthusiastically supported by a St. Petersburg crowd that Broos believed were engaged by his team's energy, might have won a few hearts here, but neither of these teams is likely to stick in Russian minds for too much longer.