Brazil 3-1 Ivory Coast

Kaka was controversially sent off as a brace from Luis Fabiano and an Elano strike helped Brazil ease to victory in their battle with Ivory Coast at Soccer City.
Didier Drogba grabbed a late goal for the Elephants, but the game was marred by the late dismissal of Kaka for an off the-the-ball foul on Kader Keita.It came too late, though, for the Elephants to respond as they slipped to defeat that leaves them with just a point in Group G, while Brazil now have six.

A Brazil fan waves her national flag ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Group G match between Brazil and Ivory Coast at Soccer City Stadium

Brazil fans enjoy the atmosphere prior to the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Group G match between Brazil and Ivory Coast at Soccer City Stadium

A Brazil fan enjoys the atmosphere prior to the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Group G match between Brazil and Ivory Coast at Soccer City Stadium

Brazil players, from left, Luis Fabiano, Michel Bastos, Robinho, Blumer Elano, Kaka, Felipe Melo, back row from left, Lucio, Julio Cesar, Juan, Gilberto Silva, and Maicon, pose for a team photo before the World Cup group G soccer match between Brazil and Ivory Coast at Soccer City in Johannesburg.

Ivory Coast's Emmanuel Eboue, bottom, and Brazil's Kaka, top, compete for the ball during the World Cup group G soccer match between Brazil and Ivory Coast at Soccer City.

Ismael Tiote of Ivory Coast is tackled by Robinho of Brazil during the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Group G match between Brazil and Ivory Coast at Soccer City Stadium.

The 1st Goal by Luis Fabiano

Luis Fabiano of Brazil scores the opening goal

The 2nd Goal



The 3rd Goal

Brazil's Blumer Elano, right, scores a goal past Ivory Coast goalkeeper Boubacar Barry

Kaka sent himself off

Kaka of Brazil walks off as he receives a second yellow card from referee Stephane Lannoy

Netherlands 1 - 0 Japan

Sneijder wins it for Dutch

The future is Oranje
Dutch supporters cheer on their team in Durban.

Wesley Sneijder's second-half goal handed Holland a narrow win over Japan in their second Group E match and put the Oranje within reach of the last 16 of the World Cup.

Sky's the limit

A Netherlands fan enjoys the atmosphere after beating Japan.

After a frustrating opening half for the Dutch side, they finally broke through in the 53rd minute with Sneijder's stinging drive deflected by Japan goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima into his own net.

Japan had the best chance to level the score one minute from time but an unmarked substitute Shinji Okazaki fired over the bar from just 10 yards as Holland held on for victory.

Fully focused

Keisuke Honda of Japan looks on as he waits in the tunnel

The Oranje, who had a sea of supporters at Durban's Moses Mabhida Stadium, dominated possession but had just one shot on goal in the opening half. Rafael van der Vaart's 25-yard shot towards the near post proved an easy save for Kawashima.

Wiel-ling away

Netherlands' Gregory Van Der Wiel evades the tackle by Yasuhito Endo.

Holland coach Bert van Marwijk fielded the same line-up that beat Denmark 2-0 in their group opener, with Van der Vaart, Sneijder and Dirk Kuyt playing in support of forward Robin Van Persie.

Holland dominated the early exchanges and created the first chance after four minutes when Van Persie's teasing cross from the left flashed across the goal and just eluded Liverpool striker Kuyt. Shortly after, Sneijder's curled free-kick went over the bar.

Dutch saviour

Dutch goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg saves a shot.

At the other end, Yuto Nagatomo's right-footed strike from the edge of the area went wide.

On the half-hour mark, Yuji Nakazawa did well to clear Giovanni van Bronckhorst's cross from the right with Van Persie waiting inside the area. Soon after, Keisuke Honda nodded high from Daisuke Matsui's free-kick. Tulio Nataka then latched onto Yasushito Endo's free-kick and his header went wide as Japan got closer.

Midfield flyer

Gregory Van Der Wiel of the Netherlands clashes with Daisuke Matsui of Japan

Japan first tested Maarten Stekelenburg in the 37th minute, with Matsui's volley forcing a save from the Holland goalkeeper. Five minutes before the break, Honda wasted a good chance when he fired a 40-yard strike way over the bar.

Head over heels

Netherlands' striker Dirk Kuyt vies with Japan's midfielder Yuki Abe

Holland pressed forward more aggressively after the break and Van Persie twice had the chance to break the deadlock. His weak header from Van Bronckhorst's cross proved an easy save for Kawashima and seconds later, the Arsenal striker fired wide from 15 yards.

Holland took the lead soon after. A poor headed clearance from Japan's defence fell to Van Persie who spotted Sneijder and the Inter Milan winger's powerful strike came off Kawashima and into the back of the net.

Sneijder strikes

Wesley Sneijder shoots and scores for Netherlands.

Back of the net

Japan goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima reacts after failing to stop Wesley Sneijder's shot.

Netherlands joy

Wesley Sneijder celebrates scoring the opening goal with team mates

Japan reacted and Yoshito Okubo forced a good save from Stekelenburg with a stinging drive from 25 yards. Shortly after, Okubo fired over the bar as the Blue Samurai surged for the equaliser.

Midfield tussle

Netherlands' Robin van Persie is tackled by Japan's Yoshito Okubo

With 15 minutes remaining, the ever-present Okubo shot wide of the far post as another opportunity went by for Japan.

Substitute Ibrahim Afellay twice had the chance to put the game beyond Japan's reach in the latter stages of the match but his close-range efforts were denied by Kawashima.

With seconds left to play, Okazaki struck wide from close-range, much to the relief of the Dutch fans.

Last chance saloon

Japan's Shinji Okazaki fires off a shot late in the game.

Japan earns first World Cup win on foreign soil with upset of Cameroon

BLOEMFONTEIN, South Africa - Japan earned its first World Cup victory on foreign soil Monday when Keisuke Honda scored in the first half for a 1-0 victory over uninspired Cameroon in Group E of the World Cup.

Japan's Keisuke Honda (l.) beats Cameroon goalkeeper Souleymanou Hamidou (r.) for the lone goal of the game.

After a sloppy first 30 minutes, Japan broke the tie in the 39th minute when Daisuke Matsui's curling cross from the right drifted over the heads of Cameroon defenders Nicolas Nkoulou and Stephane Mbia. The ball fell to Honda at the back post and the striker neatly controlled it and sent it past goalkeeper Hamidou Souleymanou.

Despite an attack led by Samuel Eto'o, Cameroon never really challenged Japan keeper Eiji Kawashima. The Africans struggled to possess the ball and generate any rhythm up front, and even when they put a few passes together, the buildup usually was wasted by poor crosses.

Japan is tied with Germany atop the Group. Its only previous victories in a World Cup came against Russia and Tunisia in 2002, when it was co-host of the tournament.

Cameroon's first shot on goal came in the 37th minute, when Eric Choupo-Moting dropped the ball at the top of the box for Eyong Enoh. But Kawashima easily handled the midfielder's low drive.

Japan's stiff defense frustrated Cameroon and kept Eto'o in check. Cameroon looked lost in the midfield, and clearly missed the creativity of Alex Song, who coach Paul Le Guen kept on the bench.

Eto'o tried to played a more active role in the second half. Just after the break, the Inter Milan striker deftly skipped through three defenders near the touch line before drawing the ball back for Choupo-Moting. But Coupo-Moting's right-footed shot drifted past the left post.

Defender Stephane Mbia nearly tied it for Cameroon in the 87th minute, but his long drive hit the left post.