YOU couldn’t have scripted this one!

Cameroon one goal up, then 3-1 down to Serbia, then even at 3-3.

The match was at the same time both chaotic and brilliant – a combination of mistakes and magnificence.

The Serbs held sway in the opening stages, having four early attempts, including Fulham’s on-form striker Aleksander Mitrovic hitting the post.

But it was the Indomitable Lions who would inflict the first wound as a corner on the half hour was twice deflected before being met at the far post by Jean-Charles Castello.

There was a VAR check but the goal was given (1-0).

The equaliser 15 minutes later was special as Strahinja Pavlovic rose to meet a cross and appeared to hang suspended in mid-air before slamming a header into the far corner (1-1).

Serbia and the crowd had hardly settled when Cameroon failed to close down Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, who drilled it home via a slight touch from goalkeeper Devis Epassy, who surely should have done better (2-1).

It was by now well into added time, but still there was enough on the clock for both sides to win a corner – but not for another goal.

One of the features of this World Cup has been the strict watch over time-wasting, sometimes turning the 90-minute game into 110 or more.

Back from the break, Cameroon’s defensive frailties were again obvious as an unmarked Mitrovic was allowed to slot it home comfortably (3-1).

But lions have pride, and don’t give up easily when the scent of the prey is in their nostrils.

Vincent Aboubakar chased a ball pumped over the high press of the Serbian backline and looked a mile offside but didn’t slow down, cleverly flicking the ball over the advancing keeper and into the roof of the net.

VAR said it was okay and the score line read 3-2.

The game had barely resumed when that man Aboubaker provided an assist for Eric Choupo-Moting, who sent the Cameroon defenders into a frenzy and the match into an implausible 3-3 result.

Mitrovic had two more chances but that’s the way it ended, leaving both sides still in knockout round contention.