Despite being ahead twice in the score, The Netherlands could not overcome Japan. After a match marked by structured and intense play, the Europeans and Asians drew 2-2 in the first match of Group F.
Right from the start, the match would show its initial sparks. In the 3 minute, the Orange Machine would have the first clear chance when Donyell Malen, bothered by Shogo Taniguchi, would shoot from the edge of the area and goalkeeper Zion Suzuki would manage to deflect it to the corner.
After this initial scare, the Asians would manage to better neutralize their rivals' attacks and level a game that would be, in the following minutes, of constant back and forth between both areas, although with no precision from either side. Only at 33, the Dutch would come close to the first goal again: Tijjani Reijnders would send a cross from the corner that Malen would head, but it would be neutralized again by Suzuki.
At the end of the first half, Japan would have its two dangerous chances of the match. First, at 42, after a great sequence of passes, Tsuyoshi Watanabe would cross for Keiko Nakamura, who would take a shot that would go just wide of the left post of Bart Verbruggen. A couple of minutes later, Ayase Ueda would receive a long pass from Daichi Kamada in the area and would shoot beside the net that doesn't count on the other post.
In the second half, The Netherlands would finally manage to breach the solid Japanese defense. After a Japanese clearance, Frenkie De Jong would open up to Ryan Gravenberch, who would send a precise pass to Virgil Van Dijk, who would head in to make it 1-0.
Although they would appear a bit stunned after conceding the goal, Japan would quickly recover in just over five minutes. At 56, Nakamura would position himself from the right to the center of the edge of the area and take a low shot that would slightly deflect off an onside Daizen Maeda before entering Verbruggen's goal.
Despite the blow, the Europeans would go back ahead on the scoreboard shortly after. At 63, Gravenberch would pass to Crysencio Summerville in the right corner of the area and, after a brief ball control, would take a low left-footed shot to the far post that was unstoppable for Suzuki.
Clearly eager for more and taking advantage of the momentum, Koeman's team would press to reach the third goal as soon as possible with some notable approaches, including a shot from Cody Gakpo to the left post that Suzuki would send to the corner. On the other side, the Asian team would look to capitalize on the chances they had to equalize the match again, such as a dangerous shot inside the area from Koki Ogawa that would go into the hands of Verbruggen.
In the final stretch of the match, the Japanese would step up to achieve the equalizer, which would finally arrive at 88. Ogawa from the corner would put the ball on Kamada's head who would send it, with some deflections in between, to the back of the net for the agonizing 2-2 final.
After the draw, The Netherlands will try to earn three points against Sweden next Saturday, June 20 at the NRG Stadium in Houston, while Japan will do the same in their next match against Tunisia on Sunday, June 21 at the BBVA Stadium in Monterrey.
