Japan battle back to draw 2-2 with Netherlands in Texas thriller

Dallas
Japan showed their battling qualities to salvage a 2-2 draw with the Netherlands in their World Cup Group F opener on Sunday as Hajime Moriyasu’s side backed up their desire to make an impact at the tournament with a gritty display.
Daichi Kamada was credited with his side’s all-important second goal in the 88th minute when the ball deflected off the Crystal Palace midfielder’s head to beat Bart Verbruggen after Koki Ogawa had powered his header towards goal.
The equaliser was Japan’s second of the match. The Samurai Blue had gone behind to Crysencio Summerville’s curling strike having seen Keito Nakamura cancel out Virgil van Dijk’s 51st-minute opener.
‘Solid job’
“The players did a solid job of carrying out what we had targeted and prepared for,” said Moriyasu.
“There had been various incidents even before the opening match. But in that first match, there was a real sense of unity.
“Even with unexpected accidents and situations we had not anticipated, I think the players stayed calm and composed and overcame the reality in front of them.”
Japan needed to show their composure from the early stages with Zion Suzuki forced to deny Donyell Malen, the Japan goalkeeper palming the ball over the bar in the third minute.
That early warning jolted Japan into taking control of possession, a move that limited openings for both sides.
Hiroki Ito’s defensive work frustrated Malen in the 34th minute and, from the resulting Tijjani Reijnders corner, Suzuki kept out the forward’s header.
Nakamura almost put Japan in front late in the half, pulling his shot wide of Bart Verbruggen’s right post having been found by Ritsu Doan’s searching cross, while, moments later, Ayase Ueda hit the side netting.