Cameroon struggled in the hot and humid conditions in China

Substitute George Mandjeck scored a late goal to secure a 1-1 draw against South Korea in Cameroon's opening game of the Beijing Olympics.

Both teams created scoring opportunites in a physical game on a hot and humid night in Qinhuangdao.

South Korea drew first blood when they went ahead in the 68th minute after Park Chu-young put a free kick past the goalkeeper Amour Tignyemb.

Nine minutes from time it was the turn of Cameroon as Franck Songo'o, son of former Indomitable Lions goalkeeper Jacques, found Gustav Bebbe in the box.

Bebbe laid the ball to Mandjeck who fired it into the South Korean net.

Cameroon defender Albert Baning was sent off in the dying moments of the game for a late tackle on Lee Keun-Ho.

Afterwards, Cameroon coach Martin Ndtoungou admitted that South Korea had been a handful for his side.

"Their defense played very well, and gave us big problems," he said.

Ndtoungou added that the conditions had a detrimental effect on his players.

"The humidity took a toll on our players," he said, adding that substitutes are key on such nights.

"The changes allowed us to take the initiative and attack in away we weren't able to in the first half."