Japan and Senegal remain well placed to reach the knockout stage of the World Cup – and a last-16 date with England or Belgium – after an entertaining draw in Ekaterinburg.
Sadio Mane put Senegal ahead from close range after an awful mistake by Eiji Kawashima, the ball flying past the Japan keeper after his attempted punched clearance hit the Liverpool forward.
Japan were level before half-time through Takashi Inui’s lovely curling finish, before Yuya Osako hit the crossbar.
Nineteen-year-old defender Moussa Wague thought he had sealed Senegal’s second straight Group H win with a fine finish from an angle but substitute Keisuke Honda salvaged a point for Japan moments after coming on.
Japan and Senegal have four points after two games, while Group H rivals Poland and Colombia are both chasing their first points of the tournament when they meet in Kazan at 19:00 BST.
Senegal frustrated by late equaliser
Despite another point, Senegal will be disappointed they could not follow up their 2-1 win over Poland last week by becoming the first African side to win two group games since Ghana in 2006.
But 16 years on from their debut World Cup, the Teranga Lions continue to win new fans in Russia.
While Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia are already making plans to return home after failing to secure a point, Senegal can still ensure Africa has at least one representative in the last 16.
However, Aliou Cisse will be frustrated his players failed to build on Mane’s opener after Kawashima’s howler.
Senegal were well in control but failed to build on their strong start and Inui’s smart finish, after Yuto Nagatomo created the chance, saw Japan draw level with their first shot on target.
Even after Wague restored Senegal’s advantage with a sweeping finish, they were unable to see the game out – keeper Khadim N’Diaye’s failed clearance leading to Honda’s equaliser.
In 2002, the likes of Henri Camara and El Hadji Diouf helped Senegal reach the quarter-finals under Bruno Metsu. If Senegal’s class of 2018 hope to emulate that achievement they will have to cut out the mistakes.
Hard-working Japan rewarded with a point
Japan were one of the first teams to book their place in Russia, qualifying last August.
Having gone out early in Brazil four years ago with one point, they now have four at this tournament and could be set for an extended stay.
They started slowly and Kawashima’s blunder threatened to prove costly.
However, Japan regained their composure and took control before the interval before wasting a glorious chance to take the lead for the first time with the game 1-1, Osako failing to connect right in front of Senegal’s net.
Japan were gifted their equaliser by Senegal’s keeper but they deserved that moment of fortune after a hard-working performance.
What’s next?
Both teams are back in action on Thursday at 15:00 BST for their final group games with Japan facing Poland in Volgograd and Senegal taking on Colombia in Samara.
Source: BBC
