Football - Australia, Cameroon hopes hit after 1-1 draw

Soccer Football - Cameroon v Australia - FIFA Confederations Cup Russia 2017 - Group B - Saint Petersburg Stadium, St. Petersburg, Russia - June 22, 2017 Australia’s Jackson Irvine in action with Cameroon’s Adolphe Teikeu REUTERS/Carl Recine

ST PETERSBURG, Russia (Reuters) - Australia fought back to draw 1-1 with Cameroon in the Confederations Cup on Thursday, a result that further dents both countries’ hopes of progressing in the eight-team tournament in Russia.

Andre Franck Zambo Anguissa put Cameroon ahead with the last touch of the first half, but a Mark Milligan penalty on the hour mark ensured a first point for both in Group B.

Australia play Chile in Moscow on Sunday and Cameroon face Germany at the same time in Sochi in their final group games.

Soccer Football - Cameroon v Australia - FIFA Confederations Cup Russia 2017 - Group B - Saint Petersburg Stadium, St. Petersburg, Russia - June 22, 2017 Australia coach Ange Postecoglou shakes hands with Tim Cahill after the game REUTERS/Carl Recine

Yet the chances of both the African and Asian champions finishing in the top two and progressing to the semi-finals look slim.

Germany and Chile, who face each other later on Thursday, both have three points.

Australia and Cameroon were meeting for the first time and traded free kicks in the opening 20 minutes but it took until the 37th minute for either to create an opening.

Soccer Football - Cameroon v Australia - FIFA Confederations Cup Russia 2017 - Group B - Saint Petersburg Stadium, St. Petersburg, Russia - June 22, 2017 Australia’s Mathew Leckie in action with Cameroon’s Karl Toko Ekambi REUTERS/Grigory Dukor

Australia keeper Matt Ryan was called into action after a smart one-two between Cameroon captain Benjamin Moukandjo and striker Vincent Aboubakar allowed the former to fire at goal.

The African champions ended the first half with a succession of corners and then opened the scoring with the last kick before the break.

A long ball out of defence bounced over Aboubakar but Zambo Anguissa's deft touch steered it past the on-rushing Ryan.

Soccer Football - Cameroon v Australia - FIFA Confederations Cup Russia 2017 - Group B - Saint Petersburg Stadium, St. Petersburg, Russia - June 22, 2017 Mexican wave during the game REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach

The Olympique de Marseille midfielder, who spurned a call-up to play for Cameroon when they won the African Nations Cup in Gabon at the start of the year, missed out on a second in the first 10 minutes of the second half.

Australia levelled on the hour mark when Ernest Mabouka brought down Alex Gersbach to concede a penalty, after Serbian referee Milorad Mazic consulted the Video Assistant.

Stand-in skipper Milligan stepped up and converted from the spot.

Soccer Football - Cameroon v Australia - FIFA Confederations Cup Russia 2017 - Group B - Saint Petersburg Stadium, St. Petersburg, Russia - June 22, 2017 Australia’s Alex Gersbach reacts after the game REUTERS/Carl Recine

Mabouka sought to make amends with a strong run down the right in the 65th minute before he teed up Aboubakar right in front of goal, but the burly striker lifted the ball over the crossbar.

Aboubakar then headed over from a similar position with 12 minutes remaining.

Cameroon coach Hugo Broos said it was unfortunate that striker Aboubakar had an off-day.

Soccer Football - Cameroon v Australia - FIFA Confederations Cup Russia 2017 - Group B - Saint Petersburg Stadium, St. Petersburg, Russia - June 22, 2017 Cameroon’s Sebastien Siani in action with Australia’s Jackson Irvine REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach

"This is the life of a front player, sometimes you score with your eyes closed and sometimes you miss chances you can't afford to miss," the coach told reporters. "Today was a bit unlucky for him... that can happen, it's a pity for us that it happens today."

"The chances were there but we didn't score, and then you don't win the game."

Soccer Football - Cameroon v Australia - FIFA Confederations Cup Russia 2017 - Group B - Saint Petersburg Stadium, St. Petersburg, Russia - June 22, 2017 Cameroon’s Arnaud Djoum in action with Australia’s James Troisi REUTERS/Carl Recine

(Reporting By Mark Gleeson; Editing by Gareth Jones and Toby Davis)

Soccer Football - Cameroon v Australia - FIFA Confederations Cup Russia 2017 - Group B - Saint Petersburg Stadium, St. Petersburg, Russia - June 22, 2017 Cameroon’s Fabrice Ondoa and Adolphe Teikeu in action with Australia’s Tim Cahill REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach

Soccer Football - Cameroon v Australia - FIFA Confederations Cup Russia 2017 - Group B - Saint Petersburg Stadium, St. Petersburg, Russia - June 22, 2017 Cameroon’s Vincent Aboubakar in action with Australia’s Jackson Irvine and Milos Degenek REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach

Soccer Football - Cameroon v Australia - FIFA Confederations Cup Russia 2017 - Group B - Saint Petersburg Stadium, St. Petersburg, Russia - June 22, 2017 Australia’s Mathew Ryan punches the ball REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach

Soccer Football - Cameroon v Australia - FIFA Confederations Cup Russia 2017 - Group B - Saint Petersburg Stadium, St. Petersburg, Russia - June 22, 2017 Australia’s Mathew Ryan in action with Cameroon’s Michael Ngadeu-Ngadjui REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach

Soccer Football - Cameroon v Australia - FIFA Confederations Cup Russia 2017 - Group B - Saint Petersburg Stadium, St. Petersburg, Russia - June 22, 2017 Australia’s Mathew Ryan in action with Cameroon’s Adolphe Teikeu REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach

Soccer Football - Cameroon v Australia - FIFA Confederations Cup Russia 2017 - Group B - Saint Petersburg Stadium, St. Petersburg, Russia - June 22, 2017 - Australia’s Mark Milligan celebrates scoring their first goal past Cameroon’s Fabrice Ondoa. REUTERS/Carl Recine

Soccer Football - Cameroon v Australia - FIFA Confederations Cup Russia 2017 - Group B - Saint Petersburg Stadium, St. Petersburg, Russia - June 22, 2017 - Australia’s Mark Milligan scores their first goal past Cameroon’s Fabrice Ondoa. REUTERS/Carl Recine

Soccer Football - Cameroon v Australia - FIFA Confederations Cup Russia 2017 - Group B - Saint Petersburg Stadium, St. Petersburg, Russia - June 22, 2017 Australia’s Mark Milligan celebrates scoring their first goal with Tom Rogic REUTERS/Carl Recine

Soccer Football - Cameroon v Australia - FIFA Confederations Cup Russia 2017 - Group B - Saint Petersburg Stadium, St. Petersburg, Russia - June 22, 2017 Cameroon’s Vincent Aboubakar in action with Australia’s Mark Milligan and Aaron Mooy REUTERS/Grigory Dukor

Soccer Football - Cameroon v Australia - FIFA Confederations Cup Russia 2017 - Group B - Saint Petersburg Stadium, St. Petersburg, Russia - June 22, 2017 Cameroon’s Fabrice Ondoa in action with Australia’s Tom Rogic REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach

Soccer Football - Cameroon v Australia - FIFA Confederations Cup Russia 2017 - Group B - Saint Petersburg Stadium, St. Petersburg, Russia - June 22, 2017 Cameroon’s Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa scores their first goal past Australia’s Mathew Ryan REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach

Soccer Football - Cameroon v Australia - FIFA Confederations Cup Russia 2017 - Group B - Saint Petersburg Stadium, St. Petersburg, Russia - June 22, 2017 Cameroon’s Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa scores their first goal REUTERS/Carl Recine

Soccer Football - Cameroon v Australia - FIFA Confederations Cup Russia 2017 - Group B - Saint Petersburg Stadium, St. Petersburg, Russia - June 22, 2017 Cameroon’s Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa celebrates scoring their first goal REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach