Japan motors into second round netting free kicks against Danes

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This article was published 25/06/2010 (5945 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

RUSTENBERG, South Africa — First-half free-kick goals from Keisuke Honda and Yusuhito Endo helped give Japan a 3-1 win over Denmark on Thursday and send the Asian country into the round of 16 at the World Cup.

Japan took a 2-0 lead after goals from free kicks within a space of less than 15 minutes and held on to collect their second win in Group E. They ended with six points compared to three for Denmark, while Cameroon was last in the group, won by the Netherlands.

The Danes scored in the 81st when Jon Dahl Tomasson tapped in the rebound from his own penalty kick, but Shinji Okazaki slotted into an empty net in the 87th to seal the win.

The Japanese reached the knockout round for the second time. They also progressed in 2002 when they were co-hosts, but missed out in two other editions.

Honda got both his and Japan’s second goal of the tournament in the 17th with a blistering free kick from the right of the Danish area that went over the wall and swerved beyond Thomas Sorensen’s reach into the far corner. The Danish goalkeeper seemed to misjudge the ball, diving late and failing to get his hands on it.

Endo’s free kick was from directly in front of the Danish goal and he curled his shot around the wall. Despite leaping to his left, Sorensen couldn’t get to it.

Denmark was awarded a penalty when Makoto Hasebe brought down Daniel Agger. Tomasson hit the ball at Eiji Kawashima but the keeer couldn’t hold it and the Danish captain sank the rebound.

— The Associated Press

Denmark 0 1 — 1

Japan 2 1 — 3

First half

1. Japan, Keisuke Honda 2, 17th minute

2. Japan, Yasuhito Endo 1, 30th

Second half

3. Denmark, Jon Dahl Tomasson 1, 81st

4. Japan, Shinji Okazaki 1, 88th

Shots — Denmark: 16; Japan: 16.

Shots on goal — Denmark: 6; Japan: 10.

Attendance — 27,967.