2010 World Cup: Cameroon v Denmark full time report
Cameroon 1 Denmark 2
A hugely-entertaining Group D match in Pretoria saw Denmark come back from a goal down to eliminate Cameroon from the 2010 World Cup finals.
An early goal from Samuel Eto'o gave the much-improved Cameroonians a one-goal advantage, but strikes from Nicklas Bendtner and man-of-the-match Dennis Rommedahl kept Denmark's dreams of last 16 qualification alive at the expense of their African opponents.
A hugely-entertaining Group D match in Pretoria saw Denmark come back from a goal down to eliminate Cameroon from the 2010 World Cup finals.
An early goal from Samuel Eto'o gave the much-improved Cameroonians a one-goal advantage, but strikes from Nicklas Bendtner and man-of-the-match Dennis Rommedahl kept Denmark's dreams of last 16 qualification alive at the expense of their African opponents.
Talismanic striker Eto'o grabbed the first goal of the half on the ninth minute to give the Indomitable Lions a crucial 1-0 lead. It was a lead that Paul Le Guen's side thoroughly deserved after controlling the opening half hour. But Nicklas Bendtner's goal 15 minutes before the break ensured the two sides started the second half all square.
Cameroon were gifted an early lead when a terrible misplaced pass from Simon Kjaer was gratefully intercepted by Achille Webo. He had the simplest task of picking out Eto'o in the place he's most dangerous – inside the penalty area – and the Cameroonian icon made no mistake, slotting the ball clinically past Thomas Sorensen.
After only sporadically threatening, Denmark looked more likely to concede a second rather than score an equaliser. But with the right wing being targeted by the Danes on a consistent basis, their persistence eventually paid off, as a fine low cross from the lively Dennis Rommedahl was finished by the alert Bendtner.
A frenetic finish to the first half saw both sides presented with two guilt-edged chances to add a second goal; but Jon Dahl Tomasson was thwarted by the sturdy Cameroon defence, before Eto'o rattled the post after another mistake from the shaky Danish backline.
The two sides had played out one of the most entertaining 45 minutes of football the tournament has seen so far. The second half was neatly poised and promised to deliver lots. Fortunately, it didn't disappoint.
Denmark completed the turnaround on the hour mark courtesy of a moment of inspiration from the brilliant Rommedahl. After finding himself in space down the right, the winger cut inside the box on his unfavoured left foot past Jean Makoun and unleashed a curling effort round the despairing Hamidou Souleymanou for, what proved to be, the match winning goal.
Meanwhile, Cameroon were still looking dangerous, undeterred from allowing themselves to go from a winning position to a losing one. If it wasn't for a series of spurned chances then Le Guen's side could have run out comfortable winners; but despite their easy-on-the-eye football, their finishing left a lot to be desired.
Sorenson was forced into making several excellent late saves as Cameroon threw everything at Denmark in a bid to rescue their World Cup dream. However, the Danes stood firm, and now face Japan in Rustenburg on Thursday for a place in the next round.
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