A late equaliser meant Tijjani Reijnders and Nathan Ake’s Netherlands have been held to a 2-2 draw by Japan of their World Cup Group F opener.
Reijnders began for the Dutch in Dallas earlier than coming off within the seventieth minute, whereas Ake was launched as a late substitute.
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The Dutch twice took the lead in a hotly anticipated tie, with Virgil Van Dijk’s header early within the second half opening the scoring after Reijnders’ preliminary free-kick had been cleared.
Donyell Malen had additionally gone shut for the Netherlands early within the tie, however Japan had threatened in a comparatively uneventful first 45 when Keito Nakamura had fired vast on the stoke of half-time.
And the wing again wouldn’t want a second invitation to drag his nation stage earlier than the hour mark, choosing up play from a left-wing cutback, and discovering the online by a crowd of our bodies by way of a slight deflection off Jan Paul van Hecke.
The Dutch regained their lead quickly after although, with West Ham United’s Crysencio Summerville drifting inside from the best flank and curling an unstoppable effort in off the far submit.
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With stoppage time approaching, it regarded just like the Netherlands had executed sufficient for the victory, however the Japanese levelled once more within the 89th minute when Koki Ogawa’s header from a nook hit Crystal Palace’s Daichi Kamada en path to the online.
Reijnders, Ake and co. will face Group F leaders Sweden – who beat Tunisia 5-1 – of their second encounter on Saturday 20 June, with kick-off in Houston set for 18:00 (UK).