Japan battle back to draw 2-2 with Netherlands in Texas thriller

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Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group F - Netherlands v Japan - Dallas Stadium, Arlington, Texas, U.S. - June 14, 2026 Japan's Daizen Maeda in action with Netherlands' Jan Paul van Hecke REUTERS/Issei Kato
Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group F - Netherlands v Japan - Dallas Stadium, Arlington, Texas, U.S. - June 14, 2026 Japan's Daichi Kamada in action with Netherlands' Ryan Gravenberch REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach
Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group F - Netherlands v Japan - Dallas Stadium, Arlington, Texas, U.S. - June 14, 2026 Japan players celebrate their second goal, scored by Daichi Kamada REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach
Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group F - Netherlands v Japan - Dallas Stadium, Arlington, Texas, U.S. - June 14, 2026 Japan's Ritsu Doan in action with Netherlands' Cody Gakpo IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters/Tim Heitman
Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group F - Netherlands v Japan - Dallas Stadium, Arlington, Texas, U.S. - June 14, 2026 Japan fans applaud their players after the match REUTERS/Issei Kato

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ARLINGTON, Texas, June 14 : A resilient Japan came back twice from behind to hold the Netherlands to a 2-2 draw in a second-half World Cup Group F thriller in Texas.

After a first half frustrated by Japan's compact defending, the Netherlands broke the deadlock in the 51st minute when Ryan Gravenberch whipped in a fine cross for captain Virgil van Dijk to head into the far corner.

Japan fought back and levelled six minutes later when Keito Nakamura converted his fierce low shot from outside the area, only for the Netherlands to go ahead again in the 64th minute when Crysencio Summerville's brilliant strike went in off the far post.

But Japan battled back and found the equaliser two minutes from time when substitute Koki Ogawa's superb header from a corner went in off Daichi Kamada. 

Sweden take on Tunisia later on Sunday in Monterrey in the other Group F match. The Netherlands next face Sweden in Houston and Japan will meet Tunisia in Monterrey, both on June 20. 

Source: Reuters

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