Japan beats Denmark to enter prequarters

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Rustenburg, Jun 24: Japan defeated Denmark 3-1 to reach the prequarters of FIFA World Cup 2010 from Group E. This is the first time Japan reached the World Cup prequarters on foreign soil.

The first goal was scored in 18th minute of the match by Keisuke Honda from a 35-yard free-kick which became one of the beautiful goal of the tournament. The second goal was scored 12 minutes later by Yasuhito Endo from another classy free-kick.

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Denmark pulled a goal back when skipper Jon Dahl Tomasson netted the rebound from his own penalty. But substitute Shinji Okazaki scored the third goal for Japan in 87th minute and condemned the Danes to their first group-stage exit from a World Cup.

Japan coach Takeshi Okada said that "the first goal has been achieved" while the CSKA Moscow ace Honda was looking further ahead.

"We are not yet where we want to be. I have always said that it"s not impossible to win the World Cup," he said.

Japanees striker Keisuke Honda was selected as the 'Man of the Match'. Japan will next face Group F winners Praguay at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria on Tuesday, Jun 29.

OneIndia News