Danes stunned after Japan join Holland

group EJAPAN booked their place in the last 16 of the World Cup after outstanding first-half free-kicks from Keisuke Honda and Yasuhito Endo sent them on their way to a deserved 3-1 victory over Denmark in Rustenburg.
By The Newsroom
Published 25th Jun 2010, 01:12 BST
Updated 25th Jun 2010, 01:12 BST

Needing only a draw to qualify from Group E, the Asians took the lead in the 17th minute when CSKA Moscow midfielder Honda bent in his set piece from 30-yards out on the right, although Denmark goalkeeper Thomas Sorenson will probably feel he should have done better.

Although not as spectacular, Endo's 20-yard effort followed on the half-hour mark when the outstretched Sorensen was beaten for the second time.

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Jon Dahl Tomasson saw his penalty saved nine minutes from the end, but bundled in the rebound to give his side a glimmer of hope, only for Shinji Okazaki to seal Japan's triumph and book a last 16 tie against Paraguay.

Holland made it three wins from as many Group E matches with victory in their dead rubber against Cameroon.

With Holland already through to the last 16 and Cameroon out, it took Robin van Persie's 36th-minute flash of inspiration to get things going. Samuel Eto'o's second-half penalty levelled matters until substitute Klaas Jan Huntelaar's 82nd-minute winner continued his side's momentum heading into a clash against Slovakia.

Related topics:HollandJapanDenmark