Japan snatches late equalizer vs Netherlands in Dallas World Cup instant-classic – USA Today

ARLINGTON, TX — After a scoreless first half, the World Cup group stage match between the Netherlands and Japan burst into life in the second 45 minutes, with Japan twice rallying and securing a 2-2 draw thanks to an 88th-minute header from Daichi Kamada.
As the clock ticked toward the 90th minute, Koki Ogawa’s corner kick found Kamada near the center of the box, and the midfielder’s header took a deflection past Netherlands goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen to level the match and send both teams into the second match of the group stage with a point each.
After a first half that saw both teams stay cautious in a group opener expected to play a crucial role in deciding which team tops the group, Netherlands defender Virgin van Dijk opened the scoring five minutes into the second period. After a free kick had been recycled, Van Dijk’s Liverpool teammate Ryan Gravenberch put a cross right on the center back’s forehead, with the veteran nodding the ball just inside the far post.
But Japan had a quick response just six minutes later in the 57th as Keito Nakamura lashed home a low shot from outside the box after it seemed Takefusa Kubo had taken the ball too deep into the box.
Japan would need to rally again after a goal in the 64th minute from World Cup debutant Crysencio Summerville, who took possession at the corner of the box, touched the ball onto his left foot and put his effort past Japan goalkeeper Zion Suzuki.
But the Japan fans increaed their volume for the last 10 minutes, and their players responded to their boost with the leveling goal.
Both teams are back in action Saturday, June 20, the Netherlands playing Sweden in Houston and Japan meeting Tunisia in Monterrey.
What a wild game here in Dallas.
Netherlands is holding onto its 2-1 lead in the final minutes here in Arlington.
Netherlands still leads 2-1 in the 75th minute, but the Japanese are pushing for an equalizer.
Just a few minutes after Japan found the equalizer, Crysencio Summerville restored the Netherlands’ lead with a bouncing strike in the 64th minute.
The Dutch lead only lasts six minutes as Keito Nakamura rockets an equalizer in the 57th minute at AT&T Stadium.
It’s the Dutch captain who scores the first goal of the match, rising high to smash in a header in the the 51st minute.
Japan’s flag is red and white, so why does its national team wear blue? According to soccer journalist Gotō Takeo, the roots stem back to 1930, when a Japanese team wore blue at a tournament. The team has worn the color ever since, forming part of its “Samurai Blue” nickname.
The Netherlands and Japan enter the break tied at 0-0. The Oranje had most of the ball but Japan crafted a pair of decent chances near the break. Suzuki was the star in the first half though, making a few saves to keep the game scoreless.
The Japanese goalkeeper is called upon again, making a save from Malen’s header off a corner kick. The Dutch have had all the possession in the last 5-7 minute stretch.
Still no breakthrough at AT&T Stadium as Japan and the Netherlands head into the first-half water break scoreless.
Each team has won a corner through the first quarter-hour, with Japan playing an extremely compact defense that is going to give the Dutch headaches trying to work through the center of the pitch.
Japan goalkeeper Zion Suzuki was called on in the game’s opening minutes to make a big save on a shot from the Netherlands’ Donyell Malen and keep the game scoreless.
ARLINGTON, TX — The three Japan goalkeepers came onto the field and bowed to the cheering fans at AT&T Stadium, with starter Zion Suzuki waving to the crowd before beginning to work on goal kicks in the opening warm-ups.
Suzuki suits up for Japan, having represented the Samurai Blue as early as the U-15 level, but he also was eligible for the U.S., having been born in Newark, New Jersey. His father is Ghanian and his mother is Japanese, and Suzuki was raised in Urawa, where he went through the Urawa Red Diamonds academy and went pro with that club before moving to a club in Belgium.
Goalkeepers: Bart Verbruggen (Brighton), Robin Roefs (Sunderland), Mark Flekken (Bayer Leverkusen)
Defenders: Lutsharel Geertruida (Sunderland), Micky van de Ven (Tottenham), Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool), Nathan Ake (Manchester City), Jorrel Hato (Chelsea), Denzel Dumfries (Inter Milan), Jan Paul van Hecke (Brighton)
Midfielders: Ryan Gravenberch (Liverpool), Tijjani Reijnders (Manchester City), Frenkie de Jong (Barcelona), Teun Koopmeiners (Juventus), Marten de Roon (Atalanta), Quinten Timber (Marseille), Guus Til (PSV), Mats Wieffer (Brighton)
Forwards: Brian Brobbey (Sunderland), Memphis Depay (Corinthians), Cody Gakpo (Liverpool), Justin Kluivert (Bournemouth), Noa Lang (Galatasaray), Donyell Malen (Roma), Crysencio Summerville (West Ham), Wout Weghorst (Ajax)
Goalkeepers: Zion Suzuki (Parma), Keisuke Osako (Sanfrecce Hiroshima), Tomoki Hayakawa (Kashima Antlers)
Defenders: Yuta Nagatomo (FC Tokyo), Shogo Taniguchi (Sint-Truiden), Ko Itakura (Ajax), Tsuyoshi Watanabe (Feyenoord), Takehiro Tomiyasu (Ajax), Hiroki Ito (Bayern Munich), Ayumu Seko (Le Havre), Yukinari Sugawara (Werder Bremen)
Midfielders: Junnosuke Suzuki (Copenhagen), Wataru Endo (Liverpool), Junya Ito (Genk), Daichi Kamada (Crystal Palace), Ritsu Doan (Eintracht Frankfurt), Ao Tanaka (Leeds United), Keito Nakamura (Reims), Kaishu Sano (Mainz), Takefusa Kubo (Real Sociedad), Yuito Suzuki (Freiburg)
Forwards: Koki Ogawa (NEC Nijmegen), Daizen Maeda (Celtic), Ayase Ueda (Feyenoord), Kento Shiogai (VfL Wolfsburg), Keisuke Goto (Sint-Truiden)
Sunday’s match kicks off at 4 p.m. ET from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
The Dutch have never won a World Cup but have lost in the championship game three times, most recently against Spain in 2010.
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The top two teams in each group advance to the Round of 32 along with the eight best third-place squads. Tiebreakers in the group standings will be resolved using the following criteria:
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