Japan lead Cameroon 1-0 at halftime of Group E game

Japan lead Cameroon 1-0 at halftime

BLOEMFONTEIN, South Africa — Japan leads Cameroon 1-0 at halftime of their Group E World Cup match at Free State Stadium.

Japan broke the tie in the 39th minute Monday when Daisuke Matsui’s curling cross from the right eluded Cameroon defenders and found Keisuke Honda at the far post. He controlled neatly and put it past goalkeeper Hamidou Souleymanou.

Eyong Enoh had Cameroon’s best chance just a minute before Honda’s goal, but he fired straight at keeper Eiji Kawashima.

Mostly, it was a dull first half, with the teams combining for only one shot on goal in the first half-hour.

Cameroon star forward Samuel Eto’o was on the right wing and was shackled by Japan’s defense.