Nakata, Honda, & Japan | All World Cup Goals (1998-2010)

The ball is in the net and Japan have a goal. Schwarzer will feel he was balked and he sits there in dismay. It looks to me as though Shinsuke Nakamura has given Japan a lead here. And Schwarzer, there's no point in complaining now. The referee's made his decision. Viduka is still having words. Here it goes. Did it go all the way in? There he goes. He's no doubt about it. Schwarzer just couldn't do anything about it. And Nakamura has given Japan the lead here. Matsui. Matsui's ball in. Here's Honda! Japan have the lead. What a birthday present for him. 24 yesterday. And out of nothing, Japan are in front. Matsui delivered the cross. Honda found the ball at his feet and steers the ball into the goal and steers Japan into the lead. Honda is the one left with the responsibility. The man in the blue gloves. Just over there, he says. There's a man in a dreadfully offside position at the moment, depending on where this one lands. They're trying to make sure he is offside. Sorensen has been beaten by the shot from distance. What a strike from Kazuki Honda. That's probably the best free kick we've seen in the FIFA World Cup of 2010. Kazuki Honda points to the heavens. And the ball flew beyond Thomas Sorensen into the Danish net. It is Denmark 0, Japan 1. An absolute Japanese cracker. The bend on that ball fooled the Danish keeper. Watch it in flight. Almost from the outside of Honda's boot. It's a thrilling goal and it's his second of the World Cup finals. It gives Japan the advantage. Sorensen hopping up and down already. Must be concerned. The memories are still fresh of the ball beating him. It's the same man, Honda, who sees it up. Can Lightning strike twice in Rustenburg? Remember, no team has got two goals here in the World Cup yet. Yasuhito Endo this time. Anything Honda can do, Endo can do too. Sorensen does not know what has hit him here. Two goals for the Japanese in half an hour. Both from free kicks. Both exquisitely executed. Denmark 0, Japan 2. They're on course for the round of 16. Japan throwing everything into another attack. The ball in is good. The brilliant dribble is good. The pushback is good. It's a goal for Japan which takes them into the last 16. It's from the left foot of Okazaki. The man who got 16 goals last year has got one here to consign Denmark to defeat and a journey home. Victory confirmed. It was always likely to happen this way, with the Danes pushing forward and the Japanese footwork was deft. They created the opening which a man like Okazaki simply could not miss.