Japan rally to play out a thrilling draw against Senegal in Group H
Honda turns the super sub against Senegal as Falcao stars in Colombia’s big win
Gulf News Report
Senegal and Japan dished out an entertaining Group H encounter to draw 2-2 in Yekaterinburg and take a step closer to the round of 16 in Russia 2018 this evening.
The Blue Samurai twice rallied as goals from Senegal captain Sadio Mane and Moussa Wague were matched by strikes from Takashi Inui and Keisuke Honda, respectively.
In the other match of the night, Colombia brushed aside Poland 3-0 in Kazan to boost their hopes of reaching the knockout stage as captain Radamel Falcao starred with a goal and an assist. The South Americans, quarterfinalists four years ago in Brazil, were given the lead by Yerry Mina, while Juan Cuadrado completed the tally to eliminate the world’s eighth-ranked team.
Senegal took the lead in the 11th minute when Japan goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima punched a cross into Mane’s leg and the ball bounced back over the line and in, before Inui’s curled finish on 34 minutes meant the sides went in level at the break.
Wague’s powerful shot into the roof of the net on 64 minutes looked to have secured the points for Senegal, but Japan substitute Honda turned in a brilliant Inui pull-back with 12 minutes remaining to give the Asian side a share of the points.
The draw means both nations go into the final round of matches on four points at the top of the group. Senegal called the shots early on when Ismaila Sarr broke into a powerful run down the right flank but he was thwarted by a Japan defender.
Mane rarely threatened in Senegal’s opening win over Poland, but said before the game that he hadn’t lost confidence in his scoring ability.
The lively contest continued before Inui’s curled finish on 34 minutes meant the sides went in level at the break. The second half sprang to life when Wague found himself in the right spot following a move initiated by ■ Mane on the right to make it 2-1 for the African side.
Not to be daunted, the Asians went for the counter-attacks and Genki Haraguchi sent in a floater, which was thwarted. Within minutes, senior pro Honda — who came in as a substitute — put his name on the scoresheet with an opportunistic strike to make it 2-2.
Senegal brought in midfielder Badou Ndiaye in place of his Stoke City teammate Mame Biram Diouf while Japan named an unchanged side for the match between the two Group H pacesetters.