2010 World Cup: Japan v Cameroon full time report
Japan 1 Cameroon 0
A solitary goal from playmaker Keisuke Honda earned Japan an historic victory at the Free State Stadium in this afternoon’s second match in Group E.
Following their poor results in recent friendlies, few had expected the Japanese to win this match; but Honda’s close-range finish in the first half sealed Takeshi Okada’s side three precious points and their first World Cup victory outside of their home country.
The first 40 minutes were marred by offsides, misplaced passes and a distinct lack of chances; and just when it threatened to live up to its billing as a potential damp squib, the talented Honda broke the deadlock against the run of play.
Daisuke Matsui’s inswinging cross from the right made the goal, but some abject defending from the Indomitable Lions’ shaky backline hardly helped the Africans’ cause.
Like Japan, Cameroon only managed to muster a single shot on target during the first half. However, the game would eventually liven up after the interval.
Minutes after the break, Cameroon’s Eric Chupo-Moting was presented with a glorious chance to level the score after superb work from Samuel Eto’o down the right hand side. But much to their frustration, the 21-year-old could only bend his shot wide of the left-hand post.
It was the first time Eto’o had managed to make his presence felt. During the opening half, the Inter Milan striker was virtually anonymous in his deeper role. And into the second half, he continued to cut a frustrated and isolated figure.
Meanwhile, Japan carried on defending resolutely as Cameroon struggled to break down their well-disciplined opponents. Those who’d seen Japan in their warm-up matches must have wondered whether this was the same group of players.
Cameroon boss Paul Le Guen threw on Geremi, Achille Emana and Mohammadou Idrissou in an attempt to rescue an invaluable point from the game; as Eto’o continued to play an increasingly peripheral role.
In the final 10 minutes, the Indomitable Lions threw everything but the kitchen sink at their opponents, and defender Stephane Mbia almost provided the moment of the 2010 World Cup so far by smashing a shot off the Japanese crossbar to so nearly equalise in the most spectacular fashion.
Camped back in their 18-yard box, Japan were riding their luck going into the four added minutes of stoppage time. An equaliser looked increasingly likely, but the Samurai Blue’s tireless defence cleared the lines time and time again.
As the referee, Olegario Benquerenca, blew the full-time whistle, the Japan substitutes and coaching staff stormed the pitch in jubilation. Against the odds, they’d sealed all three points to go level with the Netherlands at the top of Group E.
As for Cameroon, it was the first time they’d been beaten in the opening match of a World Cup, and on the evidence of this 90 minutes, a return to Central Africa after the group stage comes to an end appears the most likely outcome.
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