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Denmark 1 3Japan
 0-1K. Honda  17'
 0-2Y. Endo  30'
J. Tomasson  81' 1-2 
 1-3S. Okazaki  88'
HT: 0-2
Royal Bafokeng Stadium (Attendance: 27,967)
Referee: Jerome Damon
Preview  |  Stats  |  Match Report
CommentaryTeam StatsPlayer Stats Shotchart
Denmark vs. Japan
Minute Commentary
92' JAPAN JOIN THE ORANJE IN THE LAST 16
Japan brush aside a toothless Denmark to secure their place in the knock-out rounds. Keisuke Honda and Endo netted a couple of stunning first-half free kicks, while Shinji Okasaki added a cool third to kill off the Danish resistance. Japan could really upset the odds in South Africa - from front to back they have some quality players in the ranks. Up next, though, a last 16 tie with Group F winners Paraguay. It finishes, Japan 3-1 Denmark.
89' SUBSTITUTION
The outstanding Endo is replaced by former Premier League star Inamoto.
88' SUBSTITUTION
Yasuyuki Konno trots on in place of Okubo.
87' GOAAAAAL!!!!
Game, set, match and a place in the last 16. Keisuke Honda does the hard work with a fantastic drag back that completely bamboozles his marker. He could go it alone, but unselfishly rolls the ball to SHINJI OKASAKI, who can't miss from seven-yards. How far could Japan go?
85' GROUP E UPDATE
Klaas-Jan Huntelaar's restored Holland's lead in Cape Town. It's all academic, though - the Oranje already had top spot in the bag.
83' CROCKED
Jon Dahl Tomasson really had to stretch to beat the keeper. He's really struggling, but the Danes have already used all three substitutes.
81' GOAAAAL!!!
Game on! Kawashima guesses right to keep out what is a tame spot kick, but the follow-up falls kindly for penalty taker JON DAHL TOMASSON to just about squeeze the ball home. Lifeline for the Danes.
80' PENALTY
No hesistation from the referee as Daniel Agger goes down under a challenge from Hasebe in the box - penalty!
79' OFF THE BAR
Superb bit of skill from Soren Larsen, who spins on a sixpence and wellies a 20-yard volley onto the bar. Just about sums up the Danes' night, that effort.
77' WELL HELD
Thomas Sorensen has an easy save to make from substitute Okazaki's tame header. That'll have done his confidence some good.
75' DESPERATE DANES
The Danes are most certainly not living up to their 'Danish Dynamite' tag. They're completely devoid of ideas - perfectly illustrated by Rommedahl's latest attempt to pick out the anonymous Nicklas Bendtner.
73' SUBSTITUTION
A well-deserved rest for the impressive Daisuke Matsui. He's worked his socks off and is replaced by Shinji Okazaki.
71' FLUFFED
What a waste! Rommedahl and Poulsen carve a rare hole in the Japan back line with a quick one-two down the right-hand side. The delivery's perfect and, as a static defender watches on, Jon Dahl Tomasson scuffs the most gilt-edged of chances. That could have changed everything.
70' GROUP E UPDATE
Cameroon are going out regardless, but they've pulled one back through Samuel Eto'o. That won't affect the Dutch's position at the top of the group, though.
69' RAKING CROSS
Nakazawa sprays a fantastically-weighted, cross field ball towards Honda, who went far too early. The flag is rightly raised for offside.
68' OMENS
The stats don't bode well for the Danes, who have failed to score in three of their last four international outings.
66' YELLOW CARD
Another yellow card for a Danish player as Nicklas Bendtner's stray arm tickles the face of Nakazawa.
64' SUBSTITUTION
Christian Eriksen - the new Laudrup, apparently - replaces Thomas Kahlenberg. That's all three subs done and dusted with almost 30 minutes left to play.
62' NICKED AWAY
Komano steals a yard on the ageing Tomasson to hook clear a promising cross from Rommedahl. Like plans A and B, plan C just isn't working.
60' COMFORTABLE STOP
As far as set pieces go, the Danes have nothing on Japan. Daniel Agger's the latest to have a go, but his 30-yarder is straight at the well-positioned Eiji Kawashima. Thomas Sorensen could learn a thing or two from the Japan stopper.
58' SUBSTITUTION
Olsen's really going for it now; striker Soren Larsen on, defender Per Kroldrup off.
55' WEAVING RUN
Yuto Nagatomo lights up the stadium with a dazzling slalom run, but his final effort - a hopeful rising number - doesn't match the build-up.
53' LEAD BOOTS
Better from the Danes as Bendtner flicks a Jacobsen cross into the path of Tomasson. His touch is, however, heavy at best and Eiji Kawashima is out in a flash to smother.
51' ASKING QUESTIONS
Rommedahl crosses for Tomasson, who swings a boot and misses in the Japan area; it falls for Kahlenberg, but he doesn't expect it and the boys in blue survive.
49' BUTTER FINGERS
Sorensen is one fragile man. Yasuhito Endo spoons a softly-struck, looping free kick towards goal - Sorensen fumbles and the ball drops out off the woodwork. The man is in ruins.
48' YELLOW CARD
The no-nonsense referee doesn't like the look of Christian Poulsen's raised arm - neither does Honda (he should know, he took it in the face) - bad form.
47' ALMOST THREE
Denmark are all at sea as Matsui breaks away down the left. The Japan players are late to arrive in the box, though, and the cross fizzes across goal.
46' SECOND HALF
Up and running again in Rustenburg. What of Denmark's plan C...?
45' HALF TIME
Two ridiculously good free kicks and Japan have one huge foot in the door of the last 16. Denmark started well, but two stunners later and it's the Danes who have the most monumental of tasks. Japan have, quite frankly, been excellent.
44' TIME ADDED ON
Two minutes' time added on at the end of the first half. So far so good for the Blue Samurai.
43' BREADBASKET
Denmark showcase a training ground manoeuvre of their own. It's a long way out as the ball's rolled to Poulsen, but his effort is straight at the keeper, who smothers at the second time of asking.
41' NOT THIS TIME
Keisuke Honda and Endo hover over the ball as Denmark concede another free kick in dangerous territory. Sorensen's biting his nails as the Jabulani masters plot their next move, but this one hits a Danish defender.
39' HUFF AND PUFF
A lot of huffing and puffing from the Danes' point of view. Poulsen and Rommedahl are getting in some good crossing positions on their respective flanks, but Matsui and co. have done their homework.
37' GROUP E UPDATE
Nicklas Bendtner's pal Robin van Persie has fired the Netherlands ahead; they're surely home and dry as group winners.
35' MOUNTAIN TO CLIMB
So, the Danes now need three goals if they're to follow Holland into the last 16. Such a huge ask for a side that's, thus far, looked clueless in the final third.
32' SUBSTITUTION
Desperate times call for desperate measures. Olsson hooks Martin Jorgensen, with striker Jakob Poulsen his replacement.
29' GOAAAAL!!!!
What a peach! Per Kroldrup is booked for catching Okubo on the edge of the area. Honda fancies it, but it's ENDO who steps up and what a goal that is - Beckham-esque - into the top left-hand corner. Sorensen is dumbfounded.
26' YELLOW CARD
He doesn't let anything go, the referee. Another Japanese booking - Yuto Nagatomo's the culprit - again for time wasting.
25' WORK ETHIC
Japan have taken their foot off the gas after Honda's blistering opener. They're inviting the pressure, but, as you'd expect, are snapping at the heels of every Dane that's on the pitch. It's like watching eleven Carlos Tevezs.
23' GOAL DROUGHT
Jon Dahl Tomasson hasn't scored an international goal since February 2008, and you can see why. It's Simon Poulsen again doing the hard work, but the former Milan striker can't supply the killer touch. How many does he need?
20' GROUP E UPDATE
As things stand, Japan will go through as runners-up behind the Netherlands, who are currently being held to a goalless draw by Cameroon.
17' GOAAAAL!!!!
Out of nothing, KEISUKE HONDA lines up a free-kick near the right touchline, 30 yards out, and rifles it into the far corner, past the hapless Sorensen, a la Ronaldo. That had some dip on it, but should the keeper have done better?
15' CHANCES
It's warming up nicely. Makoto Hasebe rifles one well off target after racing clear of the Danish defence. Up the other end and it's not far away from Jon Dahl Tomasson, whose cheeky curler whistles just wide.
13' JAMMY SAVE
Daisuke Matsui meets an inch-perfect cross from Yoshito Okubo and only the outstretched boot of Thomas Sorensen prevents a certain goal. Much better from Japan and that's the closest we've come to a goal.
11' YELLOW CARD
How ridiculous. 11 minutes in and the referee books Yasuhito Endo for time wasting. That's just plain silly.
11' END TO END
A promising Danish move breaks down as Tomasson's cross is cleared. Japan break at speed, but nothing comes of it. That's the first we've seen of the Blue Samurai as an attacking unit.
10' NOTHING GIVEN
Christian Poulsen hits the deck, slap bang on the edge of the Japan box, but the referee's unmoved. Good decision.
8' VOLLEYED WIDE
Per Kroldrup wriggles free of his marker as Japan don't deal with a Thomas Kahlenburg corner. It's a decent chance, but the Danish centre back volleys wide of the keeper's right-hand post.
6' WARNING SIGNS
Denmark have certainly started the better; they're seeing plenty of the ball. After a Christian Poulsen cross evades the head of Nicklas Bendtner, that man Simon Poulsen sends in a telling cross that's just flicked away from the lurking Tomasson.
3' OMNIPRESENT POULSEN
Simon Poulsen's everywhere in the opening stages. The left-back plays a neat give and go with Tomasson, before blazing one over the bar. Not the greatest effort, but the signs are good for the Danes.
2' POOR DELIVERY
Simon Poulsen's involved again, this time conceding a free kick midway through his own half. Yasuhito Endo fails to make anything of it.
1' ROUTE ONE
Japan's Tulio Tanaka launches a hopeful ball into the Danish half, one that Simon Poulsen heads into touch.
0' WE'RE OFF
After a couple of stirring vocal performances, we're up and running in Rustenburg. South Africa's finest, Jerome Damon, the man in the middle.
0' HERE THEY COME
The two teams take to the field at Rustenburg's Royal Bafokeng Stadium. National anthems at the ready...
0' PREDICTION
The Danes put in a storming second half shift at the weekend and arguably pose the greater threat in Nicklas Bendtner, but Japanese sides can always be relied on in the work ethic department. Not much to choose between them: Denmark 2-1 Japan.
0' THE TEAMS ARE IN
Two changes to the Danish side that put Cameroon on the shelf, with Per Billeskov Kroldrup replacing suspended defender Simon Kjaer and Thomas Kahlenberg in for wide man Jesper Gronkjaer. Japan, meanwhile, are unchanged from their opening two fixtures.
0' EARLY TEAM NEWS
Danish defender Simon Kjaer misses out through suspension after collecting two bookings against Holland and Cameroon. Japan defender Yasuyuki Konno is coach Takeshi Okada's only doubt for the game in Rustenburg.
0' PREVIEW
It's D-day in Group E for Denmark and Japan as they battle it out for a place in the World Cup knock-out stages. Both sides have racked up three points, but it is the Blue Samurai who currently occupy the all-important runners-up spot behind runaway leaders Holland. The equation is very simple for the Danes, who will progress if they win. Anything else will see their Asian counterparts through to the last 16.
CommentaryTeam StatsPlayer Stats Shotchart
Teams
Denmark
(4-2-3-1)
Thomas Sorensen1
Lars Jacobsen6
29' 56' Per Billeskov Kroldrup13
Daniel Agger4
Simon Poulsen15
48' Christian Bager Poulsen2
63' Thomas Kahlenberg12
Dennis Rommedahl19
81' Jon Dahl Tomasson9
34' Martin Jorgensen10
66' Nicklas Bendtner11
Substitutes
Stephan Andersen16
Jesper Christiansen22
Patrick Mtiliga23
63' Christian Eriksen21
34' Jakob Poulsen14
Daniel Jensen7
William Kvist Jorgensen5
Thomas Enevoldsen20
56' Soren Larsen18
Jesper Gronkjaer8
Mikkel Beckmann17
Japan
(4-5-1)
21Eiji Kawashima
3Yuichi Komano
22Yuji Nakazawa
4Marcus Tanaka
5Yuto Nagatomo 26'
17Makoto Hasebe
8Daisuke Matsui 74'
2Yuki Abe
7Yasuhito Endo 12' 90' 30' 
16Yoshito Okubo 89'
18Keisuke Honda 17' 
Substitutes
23Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi
1Seigo Narazaki
15Yasuyuki Konno 89'
6Atsuto Uchida
13Daiki Iwamasa
20Junichi Inamoto 90'
10Shunsuke Nakamura
14Kengo Nakamura
9Shinji Okazaki 74' 88' 
19Takayuki Morimoto
11Keiji Tamada
12Kisho Yano
Team Stats
Denmark Japan
1 Goals 3
0 Assists 1
19 Shots 15
7 Shots on Goal 10
7 Saves 5
0 Penalties Scored 0
1 Penalty Kicks 0
26 Crosses 16
7 Corner Kicks 2
0 Offsides 5
23 Fouls Committed 10
3 Cautions/Yellow Cards 2
0 Red Cards 0
CommentaryTeam StatsPlayer Stats Shotchart
Denmark
No. Player G YC RC GA Svs
1T. Sorensen - 0 0 3 7
2C. Poulsen 0 1 0 - -
4D. Agger 0 0 0 - -
6L. Jacobsen 0 0 0 - -
9J. Tomasson 1 0 0 - -
10M. Jorgensen 0 0 0 - -
11N. Bendtner 0 1 0 - -
12T. Kahlenberg 0 0 0 - -
13P. Kroldrup 0 1 0 - -
15S. Poulsen 0 0 0 - -
19D. Rommedahl 0 0 0 - -
Substitutes
14J. Poulsen 0 0 0 - -
18S. Larsen 0 0 0 - -
21C. Eriksen 0 0 0 - -

Japan
No. Player G YC RC GA Svs
21E. Kawashima - 0 0 1 5
2Y. Abe 0 0 0 - -
3Y. Komano 0 0 0 - -
4M. Tanaka 0 0 0 - -
5Y. Nagatomo 0 1 0 - -
7Y. Endo 1 1 0 - -
8D. Matsui 0 0 0 - -
16Y. Okubo 0 0 0 - -
17M. Hasebe 0 0 0 - -
18K. Honda 1 0 0 - -
22Y. Nakazawa 0 0 0 - -
Substitutes
9S. Okazaki 1 0 0 - -
15Y. Konno 0 0 0 - -
20J. Inamoto 0 0 0 - -
CommentaryTeam StatsPlayer Stats Shotchart

Players
No.Number
GGoals
AstAssists
SHTSShots
SOGShots on Goal
CKCorner Kicks
CRCrosses
OffOffsides
FCFouls Committed
FSFouls Suffered
YCYellow Cards
RCRed Cards
GAGoals Against
SvsSaves
w3 © 2013 by STATS LLC.
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