With a lively final stage, Japan and the Netherlands draw in Group F of the World Cup
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Group F of the World Cup started with a busy game in Dallas, in the United States. This Sunday (14), Japan and the Netherlands drew 2-2, with all four goals coming in the final stage of the match.
Group F of the World Cup started with a busy game in Dallas, in the United States. This Sunday (14), Japan and the Netherlands drew 2-2, with all four goals coming in the final stage of the match.
Both the Clockwork Orange, the nickname of the Dutch team, and the Blue Samurais, as the Japanese are known, have one point each. The teams from Sweden and Tunisia, who face each other this Sunday, at 11pm (Brasília time), at El Gigante de Acero, in Monterrey (Mexico), complete the bracket.
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The teams that rank first or second in Group F can enter Brazil's path. To do this, the green and yellow team must also advance as leader or runner-up in their group.
The game
Despite the blank score, the first half in Dallas was busy. The Netherlands had more possession of the ball (59%) and made Zion Suzuki work three times. A Clockwork Orange's best chance came just after two minutes, with striker Donyell Malen, who spun around his marker inside the area and shot for a great save by the Japanese goalkeeper.
With a clear strategy of exploiting counterattacks, the Asian team tried to accelerate the exchange of passes when they had possession of the ball. Not surprisingly, he made more forced errors (ten to six). The times he managed to reach the Dutch area, shots from left-back Keito Nakamura and striker Ayase Ueda went into the net from the outside.
The Europeans came back better after the break, finally removing zero from the scoreboard. Five minutes into the second half, following a corner kick that the defense partially cleared, midfielder Ryan Gravenberch dominated the midfield and raised the ball in the area for defender Virgil Van Dijk to head into Suzuki's left corner.
Amid pressure from the Netherlands looking to extend their advantage, Japan managed to escape on the left and left everything the same. Six minutes after Van Dijk's goal, Nakamura played with midfielder Takefusa Kubo, entered the area and hit the corner. The shot still deflected off defender Jan Paul Van Hecke and went out of reach of goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen.
A Clockwork Orange, however, did not take long to regain the lead on the scoreboard. At 18, in a play worked through the middle, Gravenberch found Crysencio Summerville on the right. The striker, who had never been called up to the country's national team before the World Cup, entered the area and shot a cross, hitting the Japanese goalkeeper's corner.
As the substitutions were made, Japan gained ground and began to occupy the Dutch field, although it was difficult to finish. Striker Memphis Depay, from Corinthians, was one of those who entered the field, in the 24th minute, but the number 10 did little to help and even received a yellow card.
The Blue Samurais' insistence ended up paying off. At 43, after a corner taken by midfielder Junya Itu, striker Koki Ogawa won from the top. The header deflected off Daichi Kamada and went into the net, defining the score in Dallas. The goal was given to the Japanese midfielder.
The Dutch, who seemed comfortable with their minimal lead, were crushed with a draw. They tried to react, but they couldn't do anything. After the final whistle, the Japanese celebration on the field contrasted with the orange frustration.
For the second round, the Netherlands continues in the United States to face Sweden next Saturday (20), at 2 pm, in Houston. Japan will go to Mexico to face Tunisia in Monterrey. The ball starts at 1am next Sunday (21).
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