Cameroon cruised into the quarterfinals of the Olympic men's soccer tournament after they held 0-0 with title favorites Italy in the final round of Group D?in Tianjin, north China,?on Wednesday.
Before this match, Italy had booked a quarterfinal place with two 3-0 wins over South Korea and Honduras.
The European powerhouse finished atop of the group with seven points, followed by five-point Cameroon. The top place will help Italy avoid a clash with Brazil in the quarterfinals.
In another game of Group D on Wednesday, South Korea edged Honduras 1-0, but both were eliminated.
Italy's ace striker Tommaso Rocchi, the team's only over-age player, missed the match for injury. Juventus forward Sebastian Giovinco formed attacking partnerships with Villarreal's Giuseppe Rossi and Cagliari's Robert Acquafresca.
The European side produced the first shot in the 7th minute when Giovinco's low drive from the edge of the box was collected by goalkeeper Amour Tignyemb.
Cameroon was awarded a penalty kick in the 15th minute after Italy defender Salvatore Bocchetti apparently handled the ball in the box, but midfielder Aurelien Chedjou's shot was pushed out by goalkeeper Emiliano Viviano.
In the 21st minute, Cameroon midfielder Georges Mandjeck was sent off for a vicious foul.
The second half featured few highlights as both sides focus on defense.
(Xinhua News Agency August 13,2008)