Keisuke Honda emerged as a savior that prevented Japan from losing in Group H 2018 World Cup match against Senegal in Ekaterinburg Arena on Sunday (24/06/2018).
Both teams had to settle for a 2-2 draw. Two goals by Senegal were created by Sadio Mane in the 11th minute and Moussa Wague (71′), while two Japanese goals were scored by Takashi Inui (34′) and Honda (78′)
Japan and Senegal are the two teams that managed to reap victory in the first game. Samurai Blue successfully defeated Colombia by a score of 2-1, while Senegal conquered Poland also with similar results. In this game both teams showed an aggressive game in attack, especially after the game through the 10th minute.
In the 11th minute, Senegal managed to open a 1-0 lead through goals created by Sadio Mane. The goal was born due to anticipation error from Genki Haraguchi cross, which makes the ball actually fell in front of Youssouf Sabaly feet inside the penalty box. Sabaly was immediately fired a shot that failed perfectly countered by the Japanese goalkeeper, Eiji Kawashima.
Kawashima even make the ball bounce to Mane before entering into the net. Japan reacts with more control of the ball. Effort to scored a goal finally paid off in the 34th minute. Starting from a long pass to Yuto Nagatomo on the left side of the Japanese offense, the Inter Milan defender quickly punctured into the Senegal penalty box. Receiving a short pass from Nagatomo, Takashi Inui was immediately fired into the direction of the far post that can not be anticipated by Senegal goalkeeper, Khadim N’Diaye.
After a 1-1 draw in the first half, the two teams agains showed the game attacking each other. Samurai Blue got a golden opportunity through Inui’s kick in the 64th minute which started from a quick counterattack. His kick toward the far post was already out of reach for Senegal goalkeepers, but not a goal as it hit the crossbar.
Instead of wanting to reverse the advantage, Japan even returned a conceded that changed the score to 2-1 for Senegal advantage. In the 71st minute, Sabaly cross ball did not turn even through the direction of M’Baye Niang. However, Moussa Wague suddenly appeared and immediately grabbed the ball with a hard shot that led to a goal.
Japan coach, Akira Nishino, responded to the goal by inserting Keisuke Honda to replace Shinji Kagawa in the 72nd minute.
Just six minutes in the field, Honda can directly make a major contribution by scoring the equalizer to 2-2. Honda netted into the Senegal goal after receiving a horizontal cross from Inui in the 78th minute. After the goal, there is no longer a lot of dangerous opportunities that can be made Japan and Senegal until the game ended.
A 2-2 draw put both teams in the first and second place in Group H with both packing 4 points.
Japan 2-2 Senegal (Takashi Inui 34 ‘, Keisuke Honda 78’ – Sadio Mane 11 ‘, Moussa Wague 71’)
Japanese: 1-Eiji Kawashima, 3-Gen Shoji, 22-Maya Yoshida, 5-Yuto Nagatomo, 19-Hiroki Sakai, 10-Shinji Kagawa (4-Keisuke Honda 72 ‘), 17-Makoto Hasebe, 7-Gaku Shibasaki, 15-Yuya Osako, 14-Takashi Inui (11-Takashi Usami 87 ‘), 8-Genki Haraguchi (9-Shinji Okazaki 75’)
Coach: Akira Nishino
Senegal: 16-Khadim N’Diaye, 3-Kalidou Koulibaly, 6-Salif Sane, 5-Idrissa Gueye, 22-Moussa Wague, 12-Youssouf Sabaly, 17-Badou Ndiaye (11-Cheikh N’Doye 81 ‘), 13 -Alfred N’Diaye (8-Cheikhou Kouyate 65 ‘), 10-Sadio Mane, 18-Ismaila Sarr, 19-M’Baye Niang (9-Mame Biram Diouf 86’)
Coach: Aliou Cisse
Referee: Gianluca Rocchi (Italy)
