Winner, Netherlands Lead Group E

Klaas Jan Huntelaar's late goal ensured Netherlands progressed to the last 16 of the World Cup with a 100% winning record in Group E.

Coach Bert van Marwijk's Dutch side, who will face Slovakia on Monday for a place in the quarter-finals, had to work harder than expected for the points against a spirited Cameroon side, who were already eliminated after losing their first two matches. Arjen Robben came off the bench to help give Van Marwijk's men their third win so far in South Africa.
Huntelaar fired home the rebound after Robben, who has had to wait to make his first appearance of the tournament because of injury, hit the post with a 20-yard drive.

Cameroon had gone behind when Robin van Persie finished off a neat move but levelled through Samuel Eto'o's penalty and will probably feel they deserved something from the game.
The African side enjoyed most of the early pressure and Aurelien Chedjou saw his snap-shot fly straight at goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg after he exchanged passes with Samuel Eto'o on the edge of the area.
Jean Makoun also sent a flicked header spinning over the bar from Benoit Assou-Ekotto's driven cross, but the Dutch were never really opened up at the back despite having defending to do.
Slowly but surely, Van Marwijk's men began to impose themselves on the game and they threatened for the first time when Giovanni Van Bronckhorst fed Van Persie but the Arsenal striker fired straight at Hamidou Souleymanou.
By now, Rafael van der Vaart and Wesley Sneijder were linking up well and, although Makoun headed over again at the other end, the Dutch were dominating possession and enjoying most of the openings too.
Dirk Kuyt should have done better when Khalid Boulahrouz found him in space in the area, only to fire his shot across the face of goal.
But Liverpool's Kuyt made amends when he started the move that saw his side take the lead after 21 minutes. He advanced to the edge of the area and slipped the ball to Van Persie, who exchanged passes with Van der Vaart before burying a low shot through the legs of Souleymanou.
Van Persie continued to look dangerous after the interval, bringing a diving save from Souleymanou after sprinting on to a long clearance.
But Cameroon were clearly keen to end their World Cup on a high note and responded strongly, with only an instinctive stop by Stekelenburg denying Makoun after he beat the offside trap.
Paul Le Guen's side did not have to wait long for an equaliser, however, as referee Pablo Pozo had no choice but to point to the spot after Geremi's free-kick clearly struck Van der Vaart's arm - and Eto'o stepped up to score his second goal of the tournament.
The Dutch had more defending to do in the closing stages but they weathered the storm and hit back to win the game with a devastating counter-attack.
Robben cut in from the right before sending a rasping shot against the post, and the ball bounced back perfectly into Huntelaar's path for him to fire into an empty net.

Cameroon	1-2	Netherlands	FT
Eto'o (pen), 65	(HT 0-1)	Van Persie, 36 Huntelaar, 83
Team
Cameroon 16 Hamidou 02 Assou-Ekotto 03 N'Koulou Yellow card (04 R Song, 73) 12 Bong (23 Aboubakar, 56) 07 N'Guemo 08 Geremi 11 Makoun 14 Chedjou 19 M'bia Yellow card 09 Eto'o Captain 13 Choupo-Moting (17 Idrissou, 72)		Netherlands 01 Stekelenburg 03 Heitinga 04 Mathijsen 05 Van Bronckhorst Captain Yellow card 12 Boulahrouz 06 Van Bommel 08 De Jong 10 Sneijder 23 Van der Vaart Yellow card (11 Robben, 73) 07 Kuyt Yellow card (17 Elia, 67) 09 Van Persie (21 Huntelaar, 58)
01 Kameni, 22 Ndy Assembe, 04 R Song, 05 Bassong, 06 A Song, 21 Matip, 10 Emana, 15 Webo, 17 Idrissou, 23 Aboubakar		Substitutes: 16 Vorm, 22 Boschker, 02 Van Der Wiel, 13 Ooijer, 15 Braafheid, 14 De Zeeuw, 18 Schaars, 20 Afellay, 11 Robben, 17 Elia, 19 Babel, 21 Huntelaar
Venue: Green Point Stadium Referee: P Pozo Attendance: 63,093

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Dennis Rommedahl scored assists and his team scored 2-1 victory over Cameroon

Denmark came from behind to defeat Cameroon in a pulsating match that ensured the African team became the first to be knocked out of the 2010 World Cup.

It was a game in which both teams squandered numerous chances - but the Indomitable Lions were undoubtedly the most profligate, particularly after they fell behind and chased the goal that they so desperately needed.

Danish keeper Thomas Sorensen superbly denied Achille Emana, while substitute Vincent Aboubakar had a goal-bound effort blocked by Christian Poulsen in the closing stages as the atmosphere reached fever pitch at Loftus Versfeld.

Denmark have qualified from the group stage at all three previous World Cup appearances - and Morten Olsen's team will face Japan in their final game knowing a victory will take them into the next round.

And the result also ensured that the Netherlands - 1-0 winners over Japan earlier in the day - will qualify from Group E.

It did not look as though the experienced - if aging - Scandinavians would leave with three points after Cameroon tore into them in the opening minutes.

The African side had taken an early lead through Samuel Eto'o, who later hit the post, after a horrific error from Christian Poulsen.

But Nicklas Bendtner equalised from close range before veteran Dennis Rommedahl ghosted beyond substitute Jean Makoun after the break to leave Cameroon pointless after two games.

Cameroon were simply awful as they lost their opening match against Japan but in the minutes after kick-off on Saturday they looked strong, enthusiastic and focused.

There had been much talk of a rebellion against the tactics of coach Paul Le Guen, particularly after Eto'o played on the right and Alex Song was left out altogether against the Japanese.

But Song was restored to the Indomitable Lions midfield and had a fine game in a deep role, while Eto'o played in a more central position and took just 10 minutes to put his team in front.

Denmark, who lost to the Netherlands in their opening match, started nervously and gifted Eto'o his goal when Poulsen's awful square pass close to the edge of his own penalty area was intercepted by Pierre Webo.

He slipped the ball to an unmarked Eto'o and the Cameroon skipper had time to slot the ball beyond Thomas Sorensen from 14 yards.

Eto'o had already shot wide, while Emana went close with a rasping low strike shortly after the opener as Le Guen's team threatened to take a firm grip on the contest.

Denmark, with Jesper Gronkjaer, Jon Dahl Tomasson and Rommedahl playing behind Bendtner, simply could not keep hold of the ball during the opening 15 minutes, but they slowly edged their way back into the contest.

Rommedahl and Gronkjaer had both failed to hit the target with shots from wide positions but it would have been difficult for Bendtner to miss as he drew Denmark level after 32 minutes.

The unmarked Arsenal striker stabbed home Rommedahl's low cross from six yards but it was the sensational raking 60-yard cross-field pass from the impressive Simon Kjaer that really caught the eye - and caught Benoit Assou-Ekotto out of position.

Both teams might have scored again before the break as some atrocious defending ensured the game became an increasingly enjoyable spectacle.

Song blocked a goal-bound strike from Tomasson, while Eto'o struck the post with a drilled effort before Sorensen denied Emana after the Cameroon forward had been allowed to easily skip his way through the centre of the Danish defence.

The match continued to seesaw after the restart, with Sorenson tipping over a header from Stephane Mbia and Kjaer shooting inches over the crossbar.

But a swift Danish counter led to the game's next goal, with Rommedahl showing a burst of space to easily skip past substitute Jean Makoun before precisely slotting the ball across Hamidou Souleymanou and into the bottom corner.

Makoun had been covering for right-back Assou-Ekotto, who seconds earlier had been involved in a break almost led to a Cameroon goal.

Stung into action, the African side responded, with Webo heading wide and Makoun shooting over.

Denmark held their shape and showed a steel to preserve their lead but suffered a blow late on when Kjaer picked up a booking that means he will miss the match against Japan.

Even so, it was Olsen's team who were celebrating at the final whistle while Cameroon's only win since the 1990 World Cup remains a 1-0 victory over Saudi Arabia in 2002.

Cameroon	1-2	Denmark	FT
Eto'o, 10	(HT 1-1)	Bendtner, 33 Rommedahl, 61
Team
Cameroon 16 Hamidou 02 Assou-Ekotto 03 N'Koulou 05 Bassong (Idrissou, 72) 06 A Song 08 Geremi 10 Emana 18 Enoh (Makoun, 46) 19 M'bia 09 Eto'o 15 Webo (Aboubakar, 79)		Denmark 01 Sorensen 03 Kjaer 04 Agger 06 Jacobsen 15 S Poulsen 02 C Poulsen 08 Gronkjaer (Kahlenberg, 66) 10 Jorgensen (Jensen, 46) 09 Tomasson (J Poulsen, 86) 11 Bendtner 19 Rommedahl
01 Kameni, 22 Ndy Assembe, 04 R Song, 12 Bong, 21 Matip, 07 N'Guemo, 11 Makoun, 14 Chedjou , 20 Mandjeck, 13 Choupo-Moting, 17 Idrissou, 23 Aboubakar		Substitutes: 16 Andersen, 22 Christiansen, 13 Kroldrup, 23 Mtiliga, 05 Kvist, 07 Jensen, 12 Kahlenberg, 14 J Poulsen, 17 Beckmann, 20 Enevoldsen, 21 Eriksen, 18 Larsen
Venue: Loftus Versfeld Stadium Referee: J Larrionda Attendance: 38,704

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Honda is Japan's Hero

Japan edged out Cameroon in a dour encounter at Bloemfontein's Free State Stadium which produced little in the way of goalmouth action. A far from capacity crowd witnessed two out-of-form teams struggle to find any inspiration in another tepid World Cup encounter.

After a dire opening half-hour the Blue Samurai took the lead against the run of play when Dalsuke Matsui's cross looped over Stephane Mbia and was met by Keisuke Honda, who fired in coolly at the back post.

And the lead was almost doubled when Makoto Hasebe crashed an effort towards goal but Souleymanou Hamidou saved.

Cameroon finally found some urgency in the closing stages as Mbia rattled the crossbar from 25 yards but the well-drilled Japan side were able to hold on and go level with the Netherlands at the top of Group E.

The Blue Samurai, who had lost four straight games in their World Cup build-up before drawing 0-0 with Zimbabwe, set out so defensively it seemed they would be happy with a point from the opening whistle.

And although Cameroon showed more endeavour, with star striker Samuel Eto'o dropping deep and wide on the right they lacked any sort of cutting edge.

A 37th-minute shot from Eyong Enoh was the first goalmouth action of the game and, although it was comfortably collected by Japan goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima, it did finally suggest Cameroon may start to find gaps in the Japanese defence.

But the opposite was true as, despite their lack of attacking intent, Japan took a surprise lead one minute later.

Matsui's deep left-footed cross was completely missed by the Cameroon defenders and Honda had time to control the ball before passing into the net.

The Indomitable Lions are the most successful African side in World Cup history having qualified for the World Cup six times, but the pride and passion shown by previous incarnations was sadly lacking in this first tournament on their own continent.

Immediately after half time it suddenly seemed Cameroon had roused themselves from their slumber.

Three-time African Footballer of the Year Eto'o finally showed a glimpse of his ability when he picked the ball up on the right and beat two men on his way into the area before squaring to Maxim Choupo-Moting but the striker could not control his finish and blasted over the bar.

In fairness to Japan the Asian side's tactics worked almost perfectly as they defended solidly.

With five minutes remaining Cameroon found two efforts which could have stolen them a point.

Stephane Mbia rattled the crossbar from 25 yards in a moment of inspiration totally out keeping with the rest of the game before Kawashima saved from Pierre Webo in injury time.

Japan	1-0	Cameroon	FT
Honda, 38	(HT 1-0)
Team
Japan 21 Eiji Kawashima 03 Komano 04 Tanaka 05 Nagatomo 22 Nakazawa 02 Abe 07 Endo 08 Matsui (Okazaki, 68) 17 Hasebe (Inamoto, 88) 18 Honda 16 Okubo (Kisho Yano, 81)		Cameroon 16 Hamidou 02 Assou-Ekotto 03 N'Koulou 05 Bassong 21 Matip (Emana, 63) 11 Makoun (Geremi, 75) 18 Enoh 19 M'bia Etoundi 09 Eto'o 13 Choupo-Moting (Idrissou, 75) 15 Webo
Substitutes: 01 Narazaki, 23 Kawaguchi, 06 Uchida, 13 Daiki Iwamasa, 15 Konno, 10 Nakamura, 14 Nakamura, 20 Inamoto, 09 Okazaki, 11 Tamada, 12 Kisho Yano, 19 Morimoto		Substitutes: 01 Kameni, 22 Ndy Assembe, 04 Song, 06 Song Billong, 12 Gaetan Bong, 07 N'Guemo, 08 Geremi, 10 Emana, 14 Chedjou Fongang, 20 Mandjeck, 17 Idrissou, 23 Vincent Aboubakar
Venue: Free state stadium Referee: Benquerenca Attendance: 31,600

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