Japan’s Koki Ogawa and Yukinari Sugawara rejoice Daichi Kamada’s second objective in opposition to the Netherlands, Fifa World Cup 2026 – Group F – Netherlands v Japan – Dallas Stadium, Arlington, Texas, US, June 14, 2026. — Reuters
Japan confirmed their battling qualities to salvage a 2-2 draw with the Netherlands of their World Cup Group F opener on Sunday as Hajime Moriyasu’s aspect backed up their want to make an affect on the match with a gritty show.
Daichi Kamada was credited together with his aspect’s all-important second objective within 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 in direction of objective.
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.
Japan had gone into the match at Dallas Stadium with out Wataru Endo, who was withdrawn from the squad attributable to harm by Moriyasu, however the four-time Asian champions responded to the lack of their influential midfielder with a decided efficiency.
‘Stable job’
“The players did a solid job of carrying out what we had targeted and prepared for,” mentioned 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 surprising accidents and conditions we had not anticipated, I believe the gamers stayed calm and composed and overcame the truth in entrance of them.”
Japan wanted to indicate their composure from the early phases with Zion Suzuki pressured to disclaim Donyell Malen, the Japan goalkeeper palming the ball over the bar within the third minute.
Japan followers rejoice after Japan’s Daichi Kamada scores their second objective, Fifa World Cup 2026 – Group F – Netherlands v Japan – Dallas Stadium, Arlington, Texas, US, June 14, 2026. — Reuters
That early warning jolted Japan into taking management of possession, a transfer that restricted openings for either side.
Hiroki Ito’s defensive work annoyed Malen within the thirty fourth minute and, from the ensuing Tijjani Reijnders nook, Suzuki stored out the ahead’s header.
Nakamura nearly put Japan in entrance late within the half, pulling his shot broad of Bart Verbruggen’s proper put up having been discovered by Ritsu Doan’s looking cross, whereas, moments later, Ayase Ueda hit the aspect netting.
Deserved reward
The Netherlands threatened from the beginning of the second half and earned a deserved reward six minutes after the resumption when Van Dijk scored.
Reijnders’ free kick was headed clear by Doan to Frenkie de Jong and he shuttled possession to Ryan Gravenberch for the Liverpool man to ship an inviting cross in direction of his clubmate, who nodded past Suzuki by way of the within of the put up.
Japan had been second finest after the interval however inside seven minutes they levelled when Nakamura drove a deflected strike into the underside nook from Takefusa Kubo’s cutback.
Parity lasted seven minutes because the Dutch reclaimed the lead by Summerville, the West Ham United winger bending a superbly positioned left-foot strike round Suzuki from simply inside the world.
Netherlands’ Virgil van Dijk and teammates react after the match, Fifa World Cup 2026 – Group F – Netherlands v Japan – Dallas Stadium, Arlington, Texas, US, June 14, 2026. — Reuters
Kubo shot over the bar with an effort on the run as Japan sought to reply once more and within the dying moments their efforts paid off.
Ogawa powered his header in direction of objective and, with the ball taking a deflection off the pinnacle of the unwitting Kamada, Verbruggen was unable to disclaim the Japanese a second equaliser.
The outcome left Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman annoyed at his aspect’s incapacity to twice maintain onto their lead with the Dutch going through Sweden of their subsequent Group F encounter in Houston on Saturday.
“It’s disappointing,” mentioned Koeman. “You come ahead twice and you don’t end up winning the game, but you shouldn’t underestimate the strength of our opponent. That’s my opinion.”
