Monday June 14, 2010 Group Stage: Group E Finished Vodacom Park

Japan 1 - 0 Cameroon

  • Honda 39’

No comments yet | Write your comment

  1. Hero Honda makes Japan history

    Hero Honda makes Japan history

    Japan recorded their first World Cup finals victory outside their own country as they defeated Cameroon 1-0 in Group E at the Free State Sta More

  • Live Commentary

    Time:90'
    • Japan
    • Cameroon
    • 90+5' FULL-TIME! Japan have recorded their first World Cup finals victory outside their own country as they defeated Cameroon 1-0 in Group E at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein.
    • 90+4' Kawashima plunges full length to push Webo's effort away but a foul has already been given for dangerous play by Eto'o.
    • 90+3' Eto'o's drive is charged down by the impressive Tulio.
    • 90+2' Assou-Ekotto's free-kick runs all the way through to Kawashima.
    • 90+1' Abe booked for kicking the ball away.
    • 90' Four minutes of added time to be played.
    • 88' Junichi Inamoto replaces Hasebe.
    • 87' Honda cuts inside and a skidding drive is fumbled by Souleymanou but no-one on hand to take advantage of the spill.
    • 86' A wonderful 25-yard strike from Mbia strikes the crossbar. So close to an equaliser.
    • 85' Japan have dropped a little deep, it is a bombardment from Cameroon at the moment.
    • 84' Mbia's cross is far too heavy and runs harmlessly out of play.
    • 83' A powerful drive by Hasebe is pushed away by Souleymanou, the follow-up from Okazaki hits the post but the offside flag is already up.
    • 82' Okubo replaced by Kisho Yano.
    • 81' Geremi out on the right with Eto'o down the middle for the last 10.
    • 80' Kawashima is decisive to punch Geremi's free-kick clear.
    • 79' Only back-up keeper Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi (117) has more caps in the squad.
    • 78' Nakazawa in his 106th game for Japan has probably been the most assured performer.
    • 77' Idrissou has acres of space but a poor touch and Nakazawa comes across to clear.
    • 76' Idrissou has scored 22 goals at Freiburg in the Bundesliga over the last two seasons.
    • 75' No change in formation with Eto'o still out on the right.
    • 74' A double change as Geremi replaces Makoun and big striker Mohamadou Idrissou comes on for Choupo-Moting.
    • 73' Assou-Ekotto's cross is blocked by Hasebe who then wins the ball.
    • 72' Endo's delivery from a promising position on the left is way overhit.
    • 71' Nkoulou booked for a trip on Okazaki.
    • 70' The Lions have 20 minutes to salvage something.
    • 69' InfostradaLive: Cameroon have trailed five times at half-time in World Cup matches, only once have they came back to draw against Chile in 1998.
    • 68' Okazaki replaces Matsui.
    • 67' Shinji Okazaki preparing to come on.
    • 66' A poor ball from Eyong with Assou-Ekotto on the overlap, the Tottenham man earns a corner but it could have been so much better with a better pass.
    • 65' Real Betis' Emana wriggles into the penalty area but Japan clear.
    • 64' No yellow cards in the match. Mbia slightly lucky as he kicks Okubo the face, attempting an overhead kick.
    • 63' Achille Emana replaces the holding midfielder Joel Matip, an attacking move.
    • 62' All 11 Japan players back and Tulio heads clear, taking a knock in the process.
    • 61' Eto'o is brought down 40 yards out, Assou-Ekotto chips into the mixer and headed behind for a corner by Nakazawa.
    • 60' Match Image A Japanese fan
    • 59' Former Rangers boss Le Guen is preparing to make his first change.
    • 58' Before they lost against Ivory Coast on June 4, Japan were undefeated in their last six matches against African teams. Since 2007, they had beaten Cameroon (2-0), Egypt (4-1), Ivory Coast (1-0), Ghana (4-3) and Togo (5-0) while drawing South Africa (0-0).
    • 57' Good run from Choupo-Moting but an audacious effort from out on the left fails to test Kawashima.
    • 56' Takeshi Okada also coached Japan in their first World Cup in 1998. He still hunts for his first World Cup win as Japan coach.
    • 55' Good cross on the run from Mbia but Webo cannot direct his header on target.
    • 54' Match Image Honda celebrates
    • 53' Choupo-Moting has an effort blocked on the edge of the penalty area.
    • 52' Cameroon far more lively since the break.
    • 51' Cameroon's best chance by a distance and the first touch of class from Eto'o as he holds off Okubo, cuts inside Abe and pulls back to Choupo-Moting who looks to steer the ball into the top corner but his effort drifts wide of the far post.
    • 50' Endo smashes the delivery over at pace but it strikes a defender and is cleared.
    • 49' Nkoulou misses a long ball. Okubo retrieves it and Mbia brings him down on the edge of the penalty area, out on the left.
    • 48' Choupo-Moting is penalised for a push.
    • 47' Nagatomo chests a cross from the left behind and an early corner for the Lions - the first of the match.
    • 46' No changes at the interval in personnel nor it seems formation with Eto'o standing out on the right once more.
    • 45+2' Half-time! A quite dreadful opening period is enlivened but one moment of quality from Honda and Paul Le Guen desperately needs to rev his side up at the interval.
    • 45' Webo goes down too easily in the penalty area and Nagatomo clears.
    • 44' A deep free-kick flicks of Tulio's ponytail but a goal kick is awarded.
    • 43' Cameroon’s starting line-up vs Japan (25 years - 166 days) is the second youngest at the 2010 World Cup. They need some of the old hands to lead a revival.
    • 42' Mbia's cross is headed clear.
    • 41' Eto'o has barely had a touch out on the right-hand side and he really needs to move centrally to become the focal point.
    • 40' The quality of the finish totally out of context with the rest of the game.
    • 39' GOAL JAPAN!! Totally out of the blue, Keisuke Honda gives Japan the lead. A deep cross from the left from Matsui goes over the head of Nkoulou, Mbia has been sucked in on the cover and the CSKA Moscow m idfielder brings the ball down crisply and tucks home his finish.
    • 38' We have the first attempt on goal as Choupo-Moting lays off a throw-in into the path of Enoh Eyong whose shot is comfortably saved, low by Kawashima.
    • 37' Assou-Ekotto's cross is pulled back to Makoun but hooked clear.
    • 36' Eto'o finds Jean Makoun but Yuto Nagatomo is on the cover in the penalty area to deny Choupo-Moting and curtail a rare promising move.
    • 35' Tulio looks for Hasebe over the top but offside once more.
    • 34' Nicolas Nkoulou is lucky as he misses a straight forward defensive header but Assou-Ekotto eventually clear his lines.
    • 33' Cameroon really need to increase the tempo and take a grip of the game.
    • 32' A diagonal ball intended for Webo is way overhit.
    • 31' Assou-Ekotto's long free-kick is fumbled by Kawashima. Japan clear the danger and the keeper needs treatment after a heavy fall.
    • 30' Japan have earned two victories in World Cup finals history, and they both came in the group phase of the 2002 Cup, which Japan hosted together with Korea Republic.
    • 29' Japan have never won a World Cup match outside their own country. You can see why on this outing.
    • 28' Honda looks to whip the ball in from the by-line but it is harshly adjudged to have run out of play.
    • 27' Honda's checks back onto his left foot and his cross is headed away.
    • 26' A dangerous looking ball over the top but Matsui has strayed offside.
    • 25' Yuki Abe is all over Eto'o as he soon as he receives the ball.
    • 24' Eto'o and Webo look to combine on the edge of the penalty area but the moves break down.
    • 23' Match Image Nakazawa fights for the ball against Cameroon's Mbia
    • 22' The Mexican wave has started - a reflection of the opening quarter.
    • 21' Souleymanou fumbles a routine cross but the Kayerispor keeper is lucky as the offside flag is already up.
    • 20' Whenever Cameroon get the ball, a sea of blue shirts swarm back. Pretty negative stuff from Japan.
    • 19' Cameroon are taking part in its sixth World Cup, a record for African nations. The Indomitable Lions have moved two participations clear of Morocco, Tunisia and Nigeria in this respect.
    • 18' Both teams displaying a lack of confidence. Since April, Japan have been defeated by Serbia (0-3), South Korea (0-2), England (1-2) and Ivory Coast (0-2).
    • 17' Good tackle from Webo and he breaks forward but the pass is wasteful.
    • 16' Hasebe tries to dink the ball over Bassong but the Tottenham man heads clear.
    • 15' Webo goes down on the edge of the penalty area and Eric Choupo-Moting's follow-up shot is blocked.
    • 14' Keisuke Honda tries to wriggle around Sebastien Bassong but Souleymanou is off his line to claim.
    • 13' Barely three passes strung together so far.
    • 12' A spell of possession by Japan in the Cameroon half but Assou-Ekotto plays the ball against Yuichi Komano to deny the Asian side a corner.
    • 11' Cameroon share the best World Cup finish by an African nation with Senegal. In 1990, Cameroon made it to the quarter-finals, in 2002 Senegal matched that feat.
    • 10' A pretty uneventful opening 10 minutes.
    • 9' Eiji Kawashima comes and completely misses but Makoto Hasebe heads away before a free-kick is awarded.
    • 8' A free-kick out on the left flank will allow Cameroon to use their physical advantage.
    • 7' First hint of goal action as Achille Webo finds himself in space in the right-hand side of the area but Japan clear the cross.
    • 6' Japan are taking part in their fourth successive World Cup. This streak started in 1998, when they made their debut. Their best performance came in 2002, when they reached the last 16.
    • 5' Benoit Assou-Ekotto's long punt down the field runs out of play. Let's hope for a pick-up in the quality soon.
    • 4' Yuji Nakazawa's clearance runs all the way through to Hamidou Souleymanou - a tepid start.
    • 3' Cameroon have never lost their opening match at a World Cup, compiling one win and four draws in five outings.
    • 2' Stephane Mbia goes down clutching his face after Yasuhito Endo puts his arm across the face of the full-back.
    • 1' We are underway with Japan lining up in a 4-1-4-1 and Cameroon in a 4-3-3 formation.
    • 14:55 A very disappointing turn-out as the teams step out, the ground is little more than half full.
    • 14:50 Today's referee is Olegario Benquerenca from Portugal.
    • 14:45 Japan and Cameroon have met three times before and Japan have never lost. Japan have beaten Cameroon twice by a 2-0 score and one match finished in a scoreless draw, leaving Cameroon without a single goal scored against Japan.
    • 14:40 Nevertheless, Okada, whose side have lost four of their last five matches and scored just once, has steeled his players for the Inter Milan forward's presence. "Our players should be well informed enough about how he plays. We would like to have several players to cover him," he said.
    • 14:35 Cameroon striker Samuel Eto'o is good but he is not "perfect", Japan coach Takeshi Okada said. With 42 goals in 92 appearances for Cameroon, Eto'o is exactly the sort of scoring threat Okada's side have lacked in recent months.
    • 14:30 Coach Paul Le Guen conceded the Netherlands are likely to top Group E with Cameroon and Denmark likely to fight it out for second, providing Japan do not spring an unlikely surprise. "I feel happiness to lead the team of Cameroon. I feel the huge expectation of the country and we have certainly done everything to make sure the preparation is well underway. I think we are ready to showcase our talents," he said.
    • 14:25 Talented playmaker Shunsuke Nakamura had to settle for a place on the substitutes bench in Takeshi Okada's side.
    • 14:20 Japan, who have never won a World Cup match on foreign soil, kept Keisuke Honda in midfield having pondered starting him up front. Yoshito Okubo plays as a lone striker.
    • 14:15 New first-choice goalkeeper Hamidou Souleymanou will also start in place of Idriss Carlos Kameni who had commanded the position for the past seven years.
    • 14:10 Cameroon midfielder Alexandre Song was omitted from Paul Le Guen's starting line-up. The Arsenal man misses out after Le Guen gave Joel Matip the nod in a three-man midfield.
    • 14:05 Teams - Japan: 21-Eiji Kawashima; 2-Yuki Abe, 22-Yuji Nakazawa, 4-Tulio, 3-Yuichi Komano; 5-Yuto Nagatomo, 16-Yoshito Okubo, 7-Yasuhito Endo, 17-Makoto Hasebe, 8-Daisuke Matsui, 18-Keisuke Honda. /// Cameroon: 16-Hamidou Souleymanou; 19-Stephane Mbia, 5-Sebastien Bassong, 3-Nicolas Nkoulou, 2-Benoit Assou-Ekotto, 11-Jean Makoun, 18-Enoh Eyong, 15-Achille Webo, 21-Joel Matip, 9-Samuel Eto'o, 13-Eric Choupo-Moting.
    • 14:00 Cameroon open their World Cup campaign against Japan in Group E at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein.

  • Summary

    • 86' A wonderful 25-yard strike from Mbia strikes the crossbar. So close to an equaliser.
    • 83' A powerful drive by Hasebe is pushed away by Souleymanou, the follow-up from Okazaki hits the post but the offside flag is already up.
    • 55' Good cross on the run from Mbia but Webo cannot direct his header on target.
    • 51' Cameroon's best chance by a distance and the first touch of class from Eto'o as he holds off Okubo, cuts inside Abe and pulls back to Choupo-Moting who looks to steer the ball into the top corner but his effort drifts wide of the far post.
    • 39' GOAL JAPAN!! Totally out of the blue, Keisuke Honda gives Japan the lead. A deep cross from the left from Matsui goes over the head of Nkoulou, Mbia has been sucked in on the cover and the CSKA Moscow m idfielder brings the ball down crisply and tucks home his finish.
    • 38' We have the first attempt on goal as Choupo-Moting lays off a throw-in into the path of Enoh Eyong whose shot is comfortably saved, low by Kawashima.

Team Line-up & Ratings

  • Line-up

    Live Team Line-Up

  • Rate Players

    Rate Players

    Please to rate the players.

    Not already a Yahoo! user ? to get a free Yahoo! Account.

    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      - -
      Defenders
      - -
      - -
      - -
      - -
      Midfielders
      Substitution Out88′ - -
      Yellow Card - -
      - -
      Strikers
      Substitution Out69′ - -
      Substitution Out82′ - -
      Goal - -
      Subs
      Substitution In88′ - -
      Substitution In69′ - -
      Substitution In82′ - -
    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      - -
      Defenders
      - -
      Yellow Card - -
      - -
      - -
      Midfielders
      Substitution Out63′ - -
      Substitution Out75′ - -
      - -
      Strikers
      - -
      Substitution Out75′ - -
      - -
      Subs
      Substitution In75′ - -
      Substitution In63′ - -
      Substitution In75′ - -

Not already a Yahoo! user ? to get a free Yahoo! Account