Netherlands vs Japan LIVE
Japan hit back twice to start their World Cup campaign with an entertaining 2-2 draw against the Netherlands. The Dutch were denied a victory in their the World Cup Group F opener when Koki Ogawa’s 88th-minute header took a deflection off Daichi Kamada before going in at the AT&T Stadium in Dallas.
After a drab first half where chances were few and far between, the came to life when an unmarked Virgil van Dijk headed home in the 51st minute from Liverpool team-mate Ryan Gravenberch’s cross. Netherlands’ lead lasted just six minutes as Takefusa Kubo passed to Keito Nakamura, who drifted outside the area before rifling low into the net via a ricochet from Jan Paul van Hecke.
Ronald Koeman’s side went ahead again in the 64th minute when Crysencio Summerville cut in from the right on to his weaker left foot, ignoring the overlapping Denzel Dumfries, and firing excellently beyond Japan goalkeeper Zion Suzuki and in off the post.
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Netherlands 2-2 Japan
Some second half, that.
Proper World Cup football.
FT: Netherlands 2-2 Japan
There we have it. A dull first half, a superb second with plentiful entertainment.
A fair result, you’d say.
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Netherlands 2-2 Japan
90+3 mins: Three minutes of stoppage time to play. Can either side find a winner?
Netherlands 2-2 Japan
90+1 min: The goal has gone down as Kamada’s, with the ball deflecting off the Crystal Palace man. Six added minutes.
Goal! Netherlands 2-2 Japan
90 mins: It’s there, and Japan are level right at the death! The corner is clipped in, and the substitute Ogawa nods home, with the effort too powerful for Verbruggen to keep out!
Netherlands 2-1 Japan
89 mins: A studied pass for Ito down the right, but Dumfries gets across to defend it well. Corner, Japan.
Netherlands 2-1 Japan
87 mins: Gakpo is replaced by Brobbey.
Netherlands 2-1 Japan
85 mins: Memphis is booked for a cynical foul while Japan make a sub, Shiogai is on for Ueda.
Netherlands 2-1 Japan
83 mins: Gravenberch is replaced by Nathan Ake. A back five for the Dutch.
Netherlands 2-1 Japan
80 mins: What a chance! Ito does really well down the right and plays it in for Sugawara who has found space in the box, but he can’t generate any power in the finish, and that’s easy for Verbruggen!