Posts Tagged ‘japan world cup’

Paraguay beat Japan : FiFA World Cup Updates

Japan crashed out of the World Cup finals in heartbreaking fashion on Tuesday after a 5-3 penalty shootout defeat to Paraguay in the second round.

Yuichi Komano missed Japan’s third spot kick and Oscar Carodozo buried the decisive penalty to give the South Americans victory after a goal-less 120 minutes and deny Japan a first ever place in the quarterfinals.

Paraguay will now meet either Portugal or Spain at Ellis Park Stadium in Johannesburg on Saturday for a place in the semifinals.

Yasuhito Endo and Makoto Hasebe both converted comfortably but after Cristian Riveros had made it 3-2 to the Paraguayans, Komano fired against the crossbar to leave Japan facing an uphill task.

Nelson Valdez scored to make it 4-2 and although Keisuke Honda gave the Blue Samurai hope, goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima was helpless to stop Cardozo giving the South Americans their first quarterfinal berth.

“The players tried so hard so I wanted to win for them. Maybe this shows a lack of ability on my part,” said Japan coach Takeshi Okada. Read more…

2006 World Cup winner Italy crash out, Japan moves through to final 16

Paraguay secured top spot in Group F after playing out a stalemate Thursday with New Zealand, but the scoreless draw was the only dour affair in an eventful day of World Cup action.

In one of the tournament’s biggest shocks, 2006 champions Italy failed to move past the group stage after going down to Slovakia, while Japan graduated to the elimination round for the first time on foreign soil with an emphatic 3-1 win over Group E rivals Denmark.

The Netherlands cemented top spot in Group E by holding off a Cameroon side determined to salvage some pride before heading home. The Oranje will face Slovakia in the round of 16, while Japan and Paraguay will meet.

Paraguay 0, New Zealand 0

Paraguay and New Zealand played out a dismal goalless draw in Polokwane on Thursday, with the Kiwis needing a victory to ensure progression to the second round but never really looked like scoring. They nonetheless exit the World Cup unbeaten, having drawn all three group games against superior opposition.

In a pretty dire first half Paraguay threatened most when captain Denis Caniza got down the right flank, as he did in the 17th minute to fire an opportunistic volley from the edge of box that sailed well over. Two minutes later he drove in a long effort that veered off target, and in the 28th rifled in a 30-meter shot that landed on the top netting. Read more…

World Cup News : Japan overpowers Denmark to cruise into last 16

A pair of fabulous first-half free kicks from Keisuke Honda and Yasuhito Endo and a late strike from substitute Shinji Okazaki powered Japan to a 3-1 win over Denmark on Thursday and into the second round of the World Cup finals.

The Japanese needed only a point to secure their passage into the last 16 but an ultimately comfortable victory in their final Group E game means they join already qualified Netherlands in the last 16, where they will meet Group F winners Paraguay in Pretoria on June 29.

Takeshi Okada’s men wrapped up the group phase with six points, three behind the Netherlands, who won 2-1 against Cameroon.

Japan reached the knockout phase for the first time since the 2002 World Cup that the country co-hosted with South Korea.

“This was our first objective (to reach the second round) so I am relieved,” said coach Okada. “The players kept going until the end without losing their focus. I am proud to be with such a great bunch of players.”

Okada kept faith with the side that beat Cameroon 1-0 before losing to the Netherlands by the same scoreline in Durban on Saturday.

The Blue Samurai made a bright start and Daisuke Matsui went close to breaking the deadlock after 13 minutes but the Grenoble midfielder was denied as Denmark goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen blocked his flick after a dangerous ball into the box by Yoshito Okubo. Read more…

FIFA World Cup : Sneijder shoots down Japan to see Dutch through, Cameroon out

A second- half strike from Wesley Sneijder proved decisive as the Netherlands condemned Japan to a 1-0 defeat in Group E.

Japan defended valiantly for long stretches at Durban Stadium but had their resistance broken when Inter Milan star Sneijder struck on 53 minutes to make it two wins out of two and send Bert van Marwijk’s men into the last 16 with a game to spare.

The Dutch became the first team to reach the second round. Japan’s first defeat keeps them on three points and Takeshi Okada’s side now need a point against Denmark on Thursday in Rustenburg to advance.

Denmark 2, Cameroon 1

Cameroon became the first team to be eliminated from the World Cup as Denmark came back from a goal down in Pretoria.

A dreadful miss-pass by Christian Poulsen in front of goal allowed Samuel Eto’o to put the Indomitable Lions ahead in the 10th minute, but Nicklas Bendtner pulled one back in the 33rd minute before a solo effort by Dennis Rommedahl in the 61st gave the Danes the win.

Both sides set out for victory after losing their opening game and each created numerous chances in a thrilling match, but it was the Danes who were the most clinical in the end with Cameroon far too profligate in front of goal.

Ghana 1, Australia 1

Ghana went to the top of Group D, sharing the honors with 10-man Australia, who saw veteran striker Harry Kewell sent off in the first half in Rustenburg.

Australia had the perfect start as they sought to recover from their 4-0 drubbing by Germany in their opening match, with an error by Ghana goalkeeper Richard Kingson from a free kick, allowing Brett Holman to poke home in the 11th minute.

But disaster struck 13 minutes later when Kewell was sent off for handball on the goal line and Asamoah Gyan converted from the spot.

Australia, though, coped admirably with being reduced to 10 men, and matched Ghana for attacking football for long periods as they looked for the win to put their World Cup campaign back on track.