Denmark beats Cameroon 2-1 in World Cup

Posted Saturday, June 19, 2010 by YAHOO Sport

By KARL RITTER Associated Press Writer

PRETORIA, South Africa(AP)—Dennis Rommedahl scored one goal and set up another as Denmark beat Cameroon 2-1 on Saturday, eliminating the Indomitable Lions from the World Cup.

The Danes’ victory moved Netherlands into the second round, the first team to advance.

Rommedahl charged down the right wing and spun around Jean Makoun before hitting a well-aimed shot past goalkeeper Hamidou Souleymanou in the 61st minute.

Rommedahl had assisted on the equalizer after Samuel Eto’o put Cameroon ahead in the 10th minute following a mix-up in the Danish defense.

Nicklas Bendtner tied it in the 33rd after receiving a feed from Rommedahl following a superb long pass by Simon Kjaer.

Cameroon is the first team eliminated, although it still has a game to play against the Netherlands in Group E.

The Netherlands beat Japan 1-0 earlier Saturday to move to 2-0.

Eto’o scored early after a meltdown in the Danish defense.

Christian Poulsen rolled the ball toward fullback Simon Kjaer, but the pass was way too soft and intercepted by Achille Webo. He found Eto’o unguarded in front of the net. Cameroon’s top striker easily beat goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen with a powerful low shot.

The Danes replied just after the half-hour mark. Kjaer sent a long diagonal pass from deep inside the Danish half down the right flank to Rommedahl. The winger let the ball bounce off his chest, looked up to find Bendtner rushing toward the goal, and struck a low cross that the Denmark striker poked in with his right foot.

Both teams had a flurry of chances before the break, with Eto’o hitting the post and Achille Emana zigzagging past three defenders but shooting straight at Sorensen.

Cameroon pressed for an equalizer, but Alex Song and Webo shot over the net, and Sorensen protected the Danish lead when he stopped Emana’s right-footed shot with a one-hand save in the 77th.