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| There was a touch of fortune about Sadio Mane's goal but he went on to provide some of Senegal's best moments as they secured what could be a crucial point. |
Japan and Senegal remain well placed to reach the
knockout stage of the World Cup - and a last-16 date with England or Belgium -
after an entertaining draw in Ekaterinburg.
Keisuke Honda came off the bench in the second half and
scored in the 78th minute, giving the Japanese a 2-2 draw with Senegal on
Sunday at the World Cup.
The
32-year-old Honda, a former AC Milan forward, became the first Japanese player
to score at three World Cups.
The draw
keeps the two teams at the top of Group H ahead of their final matches.
Sadio
Mane gave Senegal the lead in the 11th minute with his first World Cup goal.
Moussa
Wague crossed from the right, but Genki Haraguchi failed to properly clear the
ball. Youssouf Sabaly then sent a shot toward goal that Eiji Kawashima was
unable to control and Mane tapped it into the net.
Japan
struck back in the 34th minute when Takashi Inui scored with a low shot from
inside the area after receiving a pass from Yuto Nagamoto on a quick
counterattack. It was Japan's first shot on goal in the match, and it changed
the run of play.
Japan
started to use its speed to control the middle of the field and open spaces in
Senegal's defence, but it was the African team that again took the lead.
Sabaly
crossed the ball for Mbaye Niang, who backheeled it toward Wague. The
19-year-old forward restored the lead with a shot high into the net in the 71st
minute.
A minute
later, Japan coach Akira Nishino sent on Honda and striker Shinji Okazaki, a
move that paid off.
With
four points from their opening two games, both teams remain in contention but
will need points from their final group matches to make the round of 16.
In their
final group games on Thursday, Senegal will face Colombia in Samara while Japan
plays Poland in Volgograd.
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