Japan leads Cameroon 1-0 after 60 minutes in Group E at Bloemfontein

Japan leads Cameroon 1-0 after 60 minutes

BLOEMFONTEIN, South Africa — Japan leads Cameroon 1-0 after 60 minutes of their Group E World Cup match at Free State Stadium.

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

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

Cameroon star forward Samuel Eto’o, who was tightly marked in the first half, finally opened up Japan’s defense in the 49th minute. He set up Eric Choupo Moting, who sent his curling right-footed shot past the far post.