
Netherlands vs Japan Result, stats & report
- Full Time
- M. van de Ven91'
- 89'D. Kamada
- B. Brobbey on for C. Gakpo85'
- 84'K. Shiogai on for A. Ueda
- M. Depay83'
- N. Aké on for R. Gravenberch81'
- 75'K. Ogawa on for T. Kubo
- 75'T. Tomiyasu on for T. Watanabe
- 75'Y. Sugawara on for R. Doan
- Q. Timber on for T. Reijnders70'
- T. Koopmeiners on for C. Summerville70'
- M. Depay on for D. Malen70'
- 66'J. Ito on for D. Maeda
- C. Summerville64'
- C. Summerville61'
- 57'K. Nakamura
- V. van Dijk51'
- Kick Off
-
1
Crysencio Summerville1 - 2
Keito Nakamura1 - 3
Daichi Kamada1
-
1
Keito Nakamura3 - 2Teun Koopmeiners2
- 3Donyell Malen2
-
1
Daichi Kamada3 - 2
Tsuyoshi Watanabe2 - 3Frenkie de Jong2
The Netherlands twice failed to hold onto a lead in their opening game of the tournament, eventually succumbing to a 2-2 draw with Japan.
In a cagey first-half, Donyell Malen came closest to opening the scoring for the Netherlands on two occasions, having a fierce shot pushed wide by Zion Suzuki and then later directing his header straight at the Japan stopper.
Japan had their best moments of the first-half just before the half-time whistle with Keito Nakamura and Ayase Ueda both hitting the side-netting.
Thankfully, the game burst into life on 50 minutes, when Ryan Gravenberch procued an inch-perfect cross to find his Liverpool team-mate Virgil van Dijk – who saw his guided header bounce off the post and in to give Oranje the lead.
But it took just six minutes for Japan to draw themselves level with Nakamura’s low drive taking a deflection of Jan Paul van Hecke on it’s way past Bart Vergbruggen in the Dutch goal.
Seven minutes later and the Oranje had restored their lead. Crysencio Summerville cut in on his left from the right side of the box and fired a sumptuous effort into the bottom corner.
Gakpo came close to make it 3-1 when he forced Suzuki into another smart stop but from that point on, Japan looked the most like scoring.
Eventually, the Samurai Blue got their just rewards when Koki Ogawa’s header bounced off Daicha Kamada and proved too strong for Bart Verburggen, ensuring a share of the spoils after a pulsating second half.
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