‘Japan should have won against Senegal’

Cisse points finger at defence

SAMARA, Russia, June 25, (RTRS): Japanese midfielder Takashi Inui was left to rue what might have been despite scoring one goal and setting up the other as Japan twice fought back from behind to secure a 2-2 draw with Senegal in Yeketarinburg on Sunday.

Inui, who signed for Real Betis at the start of June, has been one of Japan’s most influential players at this World Cup and was once again a constant threat down the left flank in the Group H encounter.

He scored Japan’s first equaliser with a delightful curled finish, set up Keisuke Honda for Japan’s second 12 minutes from time and also hit to crossbar with another second half effort.

Despite his personal performance, Inui echoed the words of his coach Akira Nishino in expressing disappointment that Japan did not get the

Japan players shake hands at the end of their Group H match between Japan and Senegal at the 2018 soccer World Cup at the Yekaterinburg Arena in Yekaterinburg , Russia, on June 24. (AP)

win that would have put them in control of the group.

“It was a game we could have won and I think there would have been a different outcome if I had scored a second (with his shot that hit the bar),” Kyodo News quoted Inui as saying.

Inui, who also scored twice in a pre-tournament win against Paraguay, blamed himself for the second Senegal goal.

“Their second goal was down to my marking. I have to be a bit more focused (in those situations).

“But I am scoring in recent matches the way I did today and I wanted to get a shot in somewhere from that kind of position. I really just let fly with the shot and am glad that I got a result out of it.”

Japan go into their pool final match against Poland on Thursday knowing a win will guarantee their safe passage to the Round of 16.

“Poland are going to be a difficult team to beat,” Inui said. “Hopefully we can pull together and make a killer effort.”

Senegal coach Aliou Cisse criticised his team for letting Japan equalise twice in their World Cup Group H game on Sunday and said he expected more from central defenders Kalidou Koulibaly and Salif Sane.

In an exciting but error-strewn 2-2 draw, the Africans went ahead through Sadio Mane and dominated for much of the first half until Takashi Inui replied with a curling shot for Japan. After the break, though, Japan did most of the attacking.

“Of course there are regrets but we must say we didn’t see a great Senegal team tonight compared to the previous match against Poland,” said Cisse.

“Despite the fact we were leading twice, what is annoying for me is the two goals we conceded,” he added, accusing his players of lacking rigour and concentration.

“All I know is at this level of competition with the players we have today, who are world-class, these were avoidable goals. That is crystal clear.”