El Tri Vs. Cameroon Results And Highlights: Peralta Nets Winning Goal Amidst Referee Controversy [VIDEO]

Mexico started off their 2014 World Cup quest with the three points they so desperately needed to survive the group as they beat the Cameroon Lions 1-0 on Friday.

Natal, Brazil was rocking in the rain on Friday morning for the group A opening match between Mexico and Cameroon at Estadio das Dunas stadium. In what felt like a home game for the El Tri squad, for the second day in a row the 2014 World Cup found itself wrought with controversy.

Three earlier goals were disallowed by referees due to offside penalties. One from Cameroon which did appear to be the right call, and two Mexican goals by Giovani dos Santos that upon further review, were BOTH incorrectly called offsides. The offsides goals started a twitter outrage as many tweeters called for Instant Replay in the World Cup.

In the tenth minute of the match, Hector Hererra gave a great pass to Giovani dos Santos who was free in the box and headed it into the back of the net. As dos Santos was celebrating with his teammates however, the referee’s assistant raised his flag and the goal was disallowed.

Then again, in the 29^th minute, came another disallowed goal by the same referee’s assistant. Once again it was Giovani dos Santos at the front of the controversy as he headed in his second disallowed goal of the match. ESPN broadcasters at the time would call it “a bad call, period.”

At the thirty minute mark, the score should have be 2-0 Mexico and almost as if it was feeling the moment, the rain turned to a torrential downpour. The fans in the match began to take up the cause of the Mexican underdog, raining down boos and chants of “Puto!” down upon the refs.

We went into halftime at 0-0 and as officials checked to make sure the field was alright, everyone watching at home wondered if Mexico would be alright emotionally as well. Mexico came out in the second half brave and determined. They controlled the majority of possessions in the second half and the attacking combination of Giovani dos Santos and Oribe Peralta brought back flashbacks of the 2012 London Olympics. If you were in the stadium, you knew it was only a matter of time before Mexico would finally break through.

They finally did in the 61^st minute when Peralta completed a great attack for Mexico by drilling a rebound of the Lion’s goalie into the net. Mexico finally had the goal they so justly deserved. No offsides or replays needed on this one. It was 1-0, Mexico. Peralta’s goal marked his ninth goal in his last seven matches for El Tri.

Late substitutions, including the much talked about, Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernandez followed, but Mexico survived a late Cameroon attack and held on for the victory. Mexico now sits atop of Group A with Brazil at three points each, after Brazil beat Croatia 3-1 on Thursday. Next up for Mexico is a tough matchup against Brazil on June 17.

Game Notes: Going into the game, Mexico had never beaten an African team at the World Cup. With the match today, Rafael Marquez became the first player to captain his country in four different world cups. With the two disallowed goals in the first half, it marked the fifth time in a row Mexico has failed to score in the first half in the World Cup. Cameroon has now lost five consecutive World Cup games, the longest streak by any African Team. The Lion has been tamed.