Japan deny Netherlands by fighting back twice in World Cup opener
Japan scored an 88th-minute equaliser as they twice fought back to rescue a 2-2 draw with the Netherlands in front of 69,285 spectators in Texas, opening their World Cup campaigns. A match that had bubbled away in the first period sparked into life in the second half on Sunday.
Japan scored an 88th-minute equaliser as they twice fought back to rescue a 2-2 draw with the Netherlands in front of 69,285 spectators in Texas, opening their World Cup campaigns.
A match that had bubbled away in the first period sparked into life in the second half on Sunday.
Netherlands skipper Virgil van Dijk scored with a fine header, only for Keito Nakamura to quickly level, before winger Crysencio Summerville’s delicious, curled finish into the bottom corner just after the hour.
The Dutch looked like they would hold on, but Japan levelled at the death, with Crystal Palace midfielder Daichi Kamada credited with the goal after a deflection.
Sweden face Tunisia in a competitive-looking Group F later on Sunday.
Japan and the Netherlands are in North America without key players, due to injury, but on paper, this was still one of the more attractive fixtures in the group stage.
Both have been touted as dark horses, capable of going far at the tournament: the Dutch have been runners-up three times, whereas Japan have never gone beyond the last 16.
The Netherlands made a confident start and nearly took the lead after three minutes, with Donyell Malen allowed to swivel inside the box before forcing a smart save from Zion Suzuki.
