Football: Kamada deflects in late leveler as Japan hold Netherlands

The Samurai Blue twice came from behind as Keito Nakamura canceled out Virgil van Dijk's opener before Crysencio Summerville restored the three-time runners-up's lead, all in the second half of the first Group F encounter in front of 69,285 at Dallas Stadium.

Manager Hajime Moriyasu's unbeaten record against European opponents stretched to 10 games, comprising eight wins and two draws -- with the previous deadlock coming against Croatia before a subsequent penalty shootout defeat in the round of 16 at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

"It's disappointing not to win, but the players didn't give up after twice going behind and put our style into practice, playing united as a team and battling through to the end toughly and tenaciously," Moriyasu said.

"When I think of how many teams can actually come away with a point against the Netherlands on a stage like the World Cup, I want to praise the players, and I think it's a valuable point."

Japan started Ritsu Doan as captain, with newly named skipper Ko Itakura kept on the bench, while Daizen Maeda got the nod to start in left attacking midfield as they began the game patiently against a talented Dutch side.

After Donyell Malen was allowed to turn inside the box and forced Japan keeper Zion Suzuki into a save in the third minute, the Samurai Blue failed to make their occasional attacks count and mustered no clear shots on target as their defensive cohesion was tested.

Shogo Taniguchi blocked Malen's close-range effort after Japan lost possession, while Suzuki denied the forward's header off a corner before the Samurai Blue finally went close when an unmarked Nakamura fired narrowly wide of the near post.

Ayase Ueda went closer when his fierce first-time shot on the bounce, off Kamada's fine pass, hit the side-netting to close the goalless first half.

The Netherlands grabbed the lead five minutes into the second half when captain van Dijk's free header off Denzel Dumfries' cross went in off the far post.

Nakamura drew Japan level seven minutes later when Takefusa Kubo created space down the left and pulled a ball back for the wide attacker, whose low drive from the edge of the box went through the defender's legs.

"I knew Kubo would give me the pass and I already had the image of going for the near post before receiving it, so it was a goal that went as planned," Nakamura said.

But Japan were late in closing down Summerville in the 64th minute as the winger cut in from the right and shot through a cluster of defenders to find the back of the net, again off the far post and beyond the reach of a diving Suzuki.

With substitute Junya Ito causing trouble down the right, Moriyasu made a triple change with 15 minutes left to pile on the pressure and his team drew level again when a header from substitute Koki Ogawa, who rose above van Dijk, took a touch off Kamada and sailed past Dutch keeper Bart Verbruggen.

"The match unfolded in a difficult way for us, but we were able to show what we've been working on. I'm happy with a point," Kamada said. "The substitutes knew what their roles were and everyone did a good job. We've shown the accumulation of four, eight years of work."

"Once you go down 1-0 against a strong nation like the Netherlands, there's every chance you could soon find yourself 3-0 down. We leveled, conceded before leveling again to get a draw and that shows our character. That's important when we are aiming to win the tournament."

Van Dijk expressed his disappointment with the result but quickly shifted his focus.

"We kept it very tight at the back, I don't think we gave many chances away," he said. "If I'm correct, it's three or four in total."

"Obviously Japan are very good on counter because they're very compact in the middle, the way their forwards stay when they lose possession...The reality is we have one point and we have to move on."

Japan face Tunisia in their second game on Saturday in Monterrey, Mexico.