Japan's Tulio Tanaka (2nd, L) vies for the ball with Cameroon's Pierre Webo (1st, L) and Samuel Eto'o (3rd, L) during their Group E first round 2010 World Cup football match at Free State stadium in Bloemfontein, South Africa, on June 14, 2010. Japan won 1-0. (Xinhua/Li Ga)
BEIJING, June 15 (Xinhuanet) -- A tense match pitted Japan against Cameroon at Bloemfontein's Free State Stadium. Neither team could get untracked in another low-scoring game.
It took 39 minutes for the first point to get on the board.
Cameroon's defenders missed Daisuke Matsui's deep left-footed cross. Keisuke Honda was there for the score. Japan took the lead. A closer look shows Cameroon had the play covered, but failed to make contact. Honda won the race to the ball, had time to control it and knocked it into the net 1-0.
Cameroon's hopes to equalize fell on the shoulders of three-time African Footballer of the Year Samuel Eto'o. He picked the ball up and ran into the area, but Maxim Choupo-Moting blasted the shot over the bar.
85th minute and another Cameroon shot missed the target. This time it was a rocket from 25 yards out that crashed off the crossbar. Japan held on for the upset and went level with the Netherlands at the top of Group E.
Takeshi Okada, Japan Coach, said, "We thought Cameroon was better on technique and level-of-strength before the match. We knew the match would be tough. But my players did well until the final whistle."
Keisuke Honda, Japan Player, said, "This is a good start for us. We haven't won for a long time, and our wish came true today. We have two upcoming matches in Group E, and we cannot predict the results. But I am truly happy to enjoy a victory on my 24th birthday."
Paul Le Guen, Cameroon Coach, said, "I thought we would end with a good result after the first half of the match. But all my players were way too nervous and did not give their best. As their coach, I felt depressed."
(Source: CCTV.com)
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