Cameroon and the US end match scoreless

USA player Kyle Martino, right, challenges Cameroon's Achille Emana during a Confederations Cup match at the Gerland stadium in Lyon, on Monday. PHOTO: AP

Cameroon played to a 0-0 draw with the US on Monday, enough to avoid a match against host and defending champion France in the Confederations Cup semifinals.

The "Indomitable Lions" of Africa will face South American champion Colombia instead in Lyon tomorrow.

France meets Turkey, which drew 2-2 with Brazil in Monday's other Group B match, in the opposite half of the draw.

Cameroon, which had already clinched a spot in the semifinals, rested most of its top players against the Americans. Still, the Africans won Group B with seven points, followed by Turkey (4), Brazil (4) and the US (1).

The US was mathematically eliminated after losing its first two matches to Turkey and Brazil.

"There were not a lot of risks to take because we were already qualified," said Cameroon's German coach Winfried Schaefer. "We wanted to be first in the group though and we wanted to stay in Lyon.

"Colombia is a very difficult team to play. We're going to get some rest and make sure our players with minor injuries are ready for the semifinal."

Lineups * US: Tim Howard; Steve Cherundolo, Carlos Bocanegra, Danny Califf, Cory Gibbs, Eddie Lewis (DeMarcus Beasley, 82nd), Kyle Martino (Landon Donovan, 55th), Chris Armas, Bobby Convey, Jovan Kirovski (Earnie Stewart, 70th), Clint Mathis * Cameroon: Eric Kwekeu; Thimothee Atouba, Pierre Njanka, Lucien Mettomo, Ngassam Falemi, Joel Epalle, Achille Emana, Gustave Bahoken (Geremi, 83rd), Valery Mezague (Modeste Mbami, 75th), Mohamadou Idrissou, Joseph-Desire Job (Samuel Eto'o, 75th)

Schaefer said starting goalkeeper Idriss Kameni and midfielder Jean Joel Perrier Doumbe are recovering from minor bruises.

Needing just a draw to clinch the group title, Schaefer's side produced only a few significant scoring chances Monday.

In the 17th minute, a header by Middlesbrough striker Joseph-Desire Job went wide. Job also had a second-half shot stopped on a sliding save by goalkeeper Tim Howard.

Valery Mezague's sharply angled attempt in the 74th was also saved by Howard.

Even with a draw, the reigning Olympic and two-time defending African champion is flying high in a sharp reversal from last year's sour World Cup experience, when the team arrived five days late because of a pay dispute and was eliminated after the first round.

The US team was coming off a superb World Cup, where it reached the quarterfinals. Despite their predicament in this tournament, the Americans pressed hard all night. Midfielder Eddie Lewis, who plays for Preston North End in England, was at the center of most of the US team's action.