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Netherlands 2-2 Japan: Koki Ogawa strikes late to snatch point in World Cup 2026 group stage
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- Netherlands 2-2 Japan: Koki Ogawa strikes late to snatch point in World Cup 2026 group stage
Japan twice came from behind to snatch a draw with the Netherlands in an entertaining opening match of Group F at the World Cup .
Under the roof of the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, the two sides played out an entralling encounter - at least in the second half - after a cagey opening period that saw neither side willing to truly open up.
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It was Ronald Koeman's Oranje that went ahead, as Virgil van Dijk nodded home the opener from a sumptuous Ryan Gravenberch cross six minutes into the second half.
The Japan ese responded soon after, as Keito Nakamura span on a sixpence in the Dutch area and slammed inside Bart Verbruggen 's near post, with the Brighton and Hove Albion goalkeeper unsighted.
Goalscorer: Virgil van Dijk (Getty)
West Ham United winger Crysencio Summerville , a new addition to the international game, scored the second on just his third senior cap for his country, as he shifted inside off his right-wing berth before bending a beauty in off the post and past Zion Suzuki with 25 minutes to play.
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The 2010 finalists looked as though they were heading for an important opening-matchday victory, but Hajime Moriyasu's side did not lie down, and in the 90th minute, supersub Koki Ogawa rose highest to nod past Verbruggen, who was caught out by the header's deflection off Daichi Kamada as it sailed goalwards.
The first half proved a stale showing, with Donyell Malen 's early drive that stung the palms of Suzuki the only real highlight.
The Roma striker, formerly of Aston Villa , was thwarted once more by the Parma shot-stopper in the first half, going close with a header from a whipped Tijjani Reijnders outswinger.
The result leaves the door ajar for either Sweden or Tunisia to take advantage, with the two sides facing off in Monterrey in the early hours of Monday morning.
