Cameroon striker Samuel Eto’o was sent off during a 3-1 defeat by fellow World Cup finalists Portugal in a warm-up on Tuesday.
Eto’o, who on Friday threatened not to go to the finals after criticism about his performances for the team from former international Roger Milla, was dismissed for dangerous play when challenging for a loose ball with left back Duda, his second yellow card of the first half.
Portugal eased to victory with two goals by Raul Meireles and one from Nani. The hosts went ahead in the 32nd minute with midfielder Meireles volleying in from near the penalty spot after a Simao Sabrosa assist.
PHOTO: AFP
Eto’o was dismissed moments later and Portugal doubled their lead just after halftime with a bizarre goal when Nani found Meireles on the left wing and his angled cross floated over Cameroon ’keeper Carlos Kameni.
Achille Webo pulled one back for Cameroon with a header from a Benoit Assou-Ekoto cross on 69 minutes, but substitute Nani added a third for Portugal with a delightful chip after a Ronaldo assist in the 81st minute.
■Costa rica 1, Swiss 0
AP, SION, Switzerland
Switzerland’s sluggish form ahead of the World Cup continued on Tuesday when it lost 1-0 to Costa Rica in a friendly.
Forward Winston Parks scored the winner in with a 57th-minute shot after a determined solo run through three defenders.
The Swiss mounted a flurry of late attacks but have lost all three friendly matches since clinching their place in South Africa last October, and scored just a single penalty in that span.
“It was important for morale to win the match,” Swiss coach Ottmar Hitzfeld said. “With a little bit of luck we would have equalized.”
Hitzfeld has one more scheduled warmup to change his side’s fortunes, against world champion Italy in Geneva on Saturday.
Switzerland opens Group H play against tournament favorite Spain on June 16. It also faces Chile and Honduras.
Switzerland started sharply and Marco Padalino’s rising third-minute shot was tipped to safety by goalkeeper Keylor Navas.
Costa Rica showed pace on the break, and the lively Parks was denied by right back Stephan Lichtsteiner’s well-timed challenge.
Bryan Ruiz, Carlos Hernandez and Cristian Bolanos all went close to scoring in the second half before the visitors took a deserved lead.
In the 59th minute, Swiss captain Alex Frei tested Navas with a curling free kick that the ’keeper pushed away to his left.
Three minutes later, winger Padalino met a crossfield pass unmarked but flicked his shot high and wide.
In stoppage time, Frei’s powerful shot was parried by Navas before substitute Eren Derdiyok poked the rebound wide of goal.
Goalkeeper Diego Benaglio had the final chance, shooting straight at Navas in a scramble following a corner.
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