A phenomenal display from hat-trick heroine Gaelle Enganamouit and a trio of penalties for Cameroon saw them comfortably see off Ecuador 6-0 in what should have been a close opening encounter in Group C.
With both nations making their World Cup debuts in Vancouver, the tie should have been a tough one to settle. But Enganamouit had other ideas, and opted for some early birthday celebrations – playing a part in all six goals for her side.
The midfielder created the goal that opened the floodgates, after a lacklustre initial half-hour, starting the move out-wide and finding Madeline Ngono Mani, who calmly hit the back of the net to begin the demolition.
Despite taking the lead, Cameroon would have expected their opponents, ranked 48th in the world, to put up a feisty battle in their quest for a point in their first ever fixture of the World Cup. However, Enganamouit – who plays her club football with Eskilstuna United in Sweden – popped up just two minutes later to collect a long ball and slot past Shirley Berruz with a well-placed effort into the bottom left corner to double the African’s advantage.
Ecuador looked to have woken up and came close to clawing back a potential comeback goal when Ambar Torres went agonizingly close with her free-kick. But a penalty awarded to Cameroon in the closing stages of the first half rubbed salt in the wounds, with Captain Christine Manie stepping up to convert and secure Cameroon’s third goal in just ten minutes and what would appear to be all three points.
The interval brought little change to the tempo, and Cameroon once again dominated for the remaining 45 minutes. Ecuador battled tirelessly, keeping the Cameroon attack at bay until 28 minutes in to the half, but eventually lost all momentum and struggled again at the hands of their opponents as they struck another three goals in quick succession.
Ecuador captain Ligia Moreira was forced to bring down Enganamouit during a counter-attack, and being the last defender subsequently saw red while being reduced to tears with passion and emotion. The 22-year-old soon took advantage of the extra woman, and collected a cool pass from Gabrielle Onguene before finding the net for number four.
The game was already wrapped up, but just six minutes later a second penalty was awarded to the victors, with Katherine Ortiz, having only recently come on the field of play, handling a strike in the box. Also reduced to tears – although with the penalty having little difference on the outcome of the match – Gabrielle Onguene beat the goalkeeper for her first of the afternoon.
And finally, a third spot-kick was sensationally, albeit correctly, awarded in injury time, allowing Enganamouit, who had previously scored just two goals in 39 appearances, to round off a remarkable individual performance with her hat-trick in the fourth minute of injury time.
The 2011 African Games winners had hit Ecuador for six in what should have been a tough battle for both, and the fixture could affect morale for La Tricolor in the remaining games of Group C as they look certain to finish bottom of the table.
