Japan came back twice against the Netherlands, one of the tournament favourites, and walked away with a draw that felt like a win for Japan. Daichi Kamada's late header sealed a 2-2 result in their first World Cup match.
Japan came back twice against the Netherlands, one of the tournament favourites, and walked away with a draw that felt like a win for Japan. Daichi Kamada's late header sealed a 2-2 result in their first World Cup match.
The Netherlands, a traditional European heavyweight, went in as clear favourites, while Japan, missing several key players, was expected to chase the game.
The first half was flat, without any memorable moments. After the break, the nearly 70,000 fans in the Dallas Stadium witnessed a football spectacle. Three goals in just 13 minutes!
The Netherlands took the lead, thanks to Virgil van Dijk, who scored five minutes into the second period. Japan's answer came seven minutes later. Takefusa Kubo cut the ball back, and Keito Nakamura drilled a low finish through a defender's legs past Bart Verbruggen. Crysencio Summerville restored the Dutch lead in the 64th minute, curling a left-footed shot beyond Zion Suzuki.
The final score was set in the 88th minute. The equaliser was officially Kamada's, but Koki Ogawa did the hard part, out-jumping Van Dijk to head Ito's corner goalward before it deflected in. Ogawa was honest about it: "It wasn't officially recorded as my goal... I'll try to score a real one."
Japan did this shorthanded. Kaoru Mitoma and Takumi Minamino were injured, and captain Wataru Endo was replaced before the tournament on medical advice. Endo's No. 6 shirt hung beside the bench during the match, and he sent a video message to the squad the night before.
The point extended the Netherlands' unbeaten run in World Cup group play to 17 matches. But Ronald Koeman still faced sharp questioning because he took off Summerville six minutes after his goal. "I am disappointed that we did not win," the Dutch coach said.
For Japan, this result stretched Moriyasu's unbeaten record against European sides to 10 games, eight wins, and two draws. "Disappointing not to win, but the players didn't give up after twice going behind... I think it's a valuable point," said Japan's manager. His team is now second in Group F after one match, while the Netherlands is third.
Sweden is now the leader in Group F after beating Tunisia 5-1.
