Japan, Netherlands Qualify for World Cup Group of 16

The Dutch celebrate after beating Cameroon. Photo by fifa.com/worldcup

The Netherlands and Japan are the two teams from Group E that made it to the second phases of the World Cup in South Africa.

Japan defeated Denmark 3:1 Thursday night in the direct clash for the second position in the group.

The Japanese were in the lead most of the match with the first goal scored by their star Keisuke Honda in the 17th minute, and another one added in the 30th by Yasuhito Endo. The Danes returned one goal after a penalty kick realized by Jon Dahl Tomasson in the 81st. The final resulted was sealed by Shinji Okazaki in the 87th minute.

In the other Group E match, the Netherlands crushed Cameroon 2:1 with goals by Robin Van Persie in the 36th and by Klaas Jan Hunterlaar in the 83rd minute. Cameroon's star Samuel Eto'o scored a penalty kick in the 65th minuted.

The Netherlands are first in the group with 9 points followed by Japan with 6. Denmark with 3 and Cameroon with 0 are out of the World Cup.

The Netherlands will be playing Slovakia in the next phase, and Japan will face Paraguay.

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