Cameroon Eliminated From World Cup 2010 After 2-1 Loss To Denmark

Cameroon has become the first team eliminated from the 2010 World Cup after their 2-1 loss to Denmark in Pretoria. Goals by Nicklas Bendtner and Dennis Rommedahl brought the Danes back from an early deficit, when mistakes at the back by Thomas Sorensen and Christian Poulsen gifted Samuel Eto’o the opening goal.

It was the most open game of the tournament, with the teams combining for 36 shots, 12 of which found goal. Cameroon’s seven shots on Sorensen were the most in this tournament by a team that lost the game.

Simon Kjaer, arguably Denmark’s best defender, will miss Denmark’s third group stage match after picking up a yellow card on Saturday against Cameroon.

Kjaer pulled down a made in midfield and was showed yellow in the 85th minute. Combined with a card received in Denmark’s first group stage match (against the Netherlands), Kjaer has earned a one match suspension.

Dennis Rommedahl assisted on the first Denmark goal and set-up the chance that nearly gave the Danes the lead minutes before halftime, but in the 61st minute against Cameroon the attacker created a scoring opportunity for himself to put Denmark up 2-1.

Again breaking down the right side of attack, Rommedahl pushed the counter attack opportunity toward the goal but was not shown to the line by midfielder Jean Makoun. Rommedahl was allowed to cut-back onto his left foot and bend a ball just inside the far post from 14 yards out.

Cameroon and Denmark have reached halftime tied at one, with near misses by each team near the end of the first half remarkably keeping the match tied.

Three minutes before half time, Danish attacker Jon Dahl Tomasson had a shot toward an empty net blocked when Alexandre Song laid out in front of his attempt from 15 yards out, a shot that was set-up after Dennis Rommadahl again beat the defense on the right side, drew out goalkeeper Souleymanou Hamidou before poking a pass to Tomasson.

Denmark has pulled back Samuel Eto’o with a 33rd minute goal from Nicklas Bendtner, putting the teams level at one approaching halftime.

The opportunity game when Dennis Rommedahl beat the Cameroon offside trap. The Danish attacker drew the goalkeeper and slid the ball across to Bendtner for an easy goal.

Denmark has gifted Cameroon a 10th minute goal in Saturday’s third match, giving Samuel Eto’o and the Indomitable Lions their first goal of their tournament and a 1-0 lead.

Goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen played a ball to Christian Poulsen just outside the top of the penalty area despite Cameroon exerting high pressure with a number of players. Poulsen touched it to Denmark’s right flank, where the ball was intercepted.