Denmark 0-2 Japan - Blue Samurais have one foot in the knockout round after two stunning free-kicks from Keisuke Honda & Yasuhito Endo

By Gary Niblock

24 Jun 2010 20:20:00

2010 FIFA World Cup - Denmark vs Japan,Keisuke Honda (Getty Images)

A stunning brace of free kicks from Keisuke Honda and Yaushito Endo have left Denmark reeling and mean that Japan are all but in the last sixteen.

The Samurai Blues landed their first knockout blow just after the quarter-hour. From 35 yards out on the right hand side of the pitch, Keisuke Honda fizzed the ball over the wall and impossibly beyond Sorensen. Though the keeper could be faulted for his footwork, it would be an injustice to take anything away from the CSKA star whose technique was reminiscent of the former Lyon midfielder Juninho Pernambucano.

When Japan won a free kick on the half-hour, everyone expected Honda to try and repeat the trick. However this is a real cohesive unit without stars and Asian Player of the Year Yaushito Endo stepped up and curled the ball beautifully into the net beyond a despairing Sorensen.

There had been a few butterflies for the Japanese fans early on when Simon Poulsen's cross took a deflection and fooled the Japanese defence, however Jon-Dahl Tomasson missed his attempt at an acrobatic volley and the ball skipped behind for a corner.

In the driving seat | Honda gives japan the edge

Denmark showed themselves to be capable of keeping possession for long periods with the Japanese content to play for a point which would see them through. However Japan showed an ability to surprise and in addition no player in blue shirked his duties for a moment.

Out of nothing, the East Asian side almost produced a goal. Yoshito Okubo delivered a wicked ball into the box, which enticed Sorensen from his goal. Daisuke Matsui attacked the pass but could only flick the ball against a somewhat fortunate Danish goalkeeper. Captain Makoto Hasebe then fired wide from a smart through ball with Agger caught hopelessly out of position.

With the tempo now a great deal more upbeat, Jon Dahl Tomasson sparkled with his own moment of brilliance, almost passing the ball into the net from an acute angle. It was shortly after that Japan were about to dazzle the Danes