Manaus (Brazil): Striker Mario Mandzukic scored two second-half goals as Croatia knocked 10-man Cameroon out of the World Cup with a 4-0 rout in Manaus on Wednesday.

Croatia bounced back from their opening defeat to hosts Brazil to keep alive their hopes of progressing from Group A with an emphatic display.

But Cameroon were largely the architects of their own downfall after playing the last 50 minutes with 10 men after Alexandre Song's dismissal for a stupid reckless punch to Mandzukic's back.

Croatia's forward Mario Mandzukic gestures to the crowd as he celebrates after scoring during the Group A football match between Cameroon and Croatia at The Amazonia Arena in Manaus, during the 2014 FIFA World Cup. AFP PHOTO

The Indomitable Lions seemed anything but as they imploded with full-back Benoit Assou-Ekotto even trying to headbutt team-mate Benjamin Moukandjo in the dying moments following an argument.

Croatia, for their part, could have doubled their score but at least did what they needed to. Veteran striker Ivica Olic gave them a 1-0 half-time lead before his Wolfsburg team-mate Ivan Perisic added a second ahead of Mandzukic's brace.

The result leaves Niko Kovac's Croatia third in the table, just one point behind joint leaders Brazil and Mexico. Cameroon are bottom with no points.