Honda strike earns Japan draw with Senegal

Second-half substitute Keisuke Honda scored late as Japan twice came from behind to earn a 2-2 draw with Senegal in their World Cup Group H match on Sunday.

Keisuke Honda of Japan in action during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group H match between Japan and Senegal at Ekaterinburg Arena on June 24, 2018 in Yekaterinburg, Russia. [Photo: VCG]

Moussa Wagner gave Senegal the lead with 19 minutes remaining after Takashi Inui cancelled out Sadio Mane's opener.

But former AC Milan winger Honda drew his side level by firing in from close-range, six minutes after replacing Shinji Kagawa.

The result leaves both teams on four points from two matches and left the group wide open ahead of Thursday's last round of matches.

"We fought to the death," Japan coach Akira Nishino said. "Naturally we wanted to win but the way the team came from behind twice shows how much we have improved in attack. But we still want to see it out and win our last game.".

Senegal coach Aliou Cisse was not so happy, admitting that his team did not deserve to win.

"We were not very good frankly, and Japan were the better team, I have to admit that," Cisse said. "But despite that fact, we led twice and what's annoying for me is the two goals we conceded."

Senegal settled quickly, taking the lead in the 11th minute at Central Stadium. Youssouf Sabaly began the move by latching onto a poor clearance with a tame effort that Eiji Kawashima ought to have grasped. Instead, the goalkeeper punched the ball directly onto the legs of Mane and the ball rebounded into the net.

Despite having less possession, Senegal looked more dangerous in the final third as central striker M'Baye Niang combined well with Mane on the left and attacking midfielders Badou Ndiaye and Idrissa Gueye just behind him.

Japan's equalizer came against the run of play after a superb assist from Yuto Nagatomo. The Galatasaray full-back left two defenders in his wake before feeding Inui, who took a touch before drilling an unstoppable shot into the far corner.

Japan raised their tempo after halftime as their high-pressing defence allowed them to quickly recover possession.

They came close to taking the lead just after the hour mark when Inui hit the crossbar after a backheel pass from Gaku Shibasaki.

Sabaly then ran onto to Mane's dinked pass before turning smartly around his marker and firing a low cross to Niango in the six-yard box. The Torino forward made slight contact with a backheel flick and Wague timed his run perfectly to lash in at the far post.

But Japan continued to threaten as Senegal struggled to maintain possession. Honda was brought on Kagawa shortly after the goal and the move made an immediate impact.

Inui's cross from the left after a bungled Senegal clearance fell to Honda and the CF Pachuca veteran coolly drilled his first-time effort past Khadim Ndiaye.