Yekaterinburg: Substitute Keisuke Honda restored parity with 12 minutes left on the clock as Japan twice pegged back Senegal in a thrilling 2-2 draw Sunday that leaves World Cup Group H wide open.
As it stands, Japan and Senegal have four points after two games, with Colombia and Poland on zero, though they have played a game less.
Midfielder Honda was the hero for Japan, scoring the deserved leveller after goalkeeper Khadim N’Diaye flapped at a cross. Senegal, who reached the quarterfinals in the country’s previous World Cup appearance in 2002, needed just over 10 minutes to go in front.
Japan failed to deal with a right-wing cross with Genki Haraguchi nodding the ball straight to Senegal defender Youssouf Sabaly in the box. He fired at Eiji Kawashima and the goalkeeper made a mess of it, punching the ball into the lurking Liverpool star Sadio Mane.
The ball bounced off the striker and into the net for his first goal at this tournament – cue raucous Senegal celebrations with Khadim N’Diaye racing the length of the pitch to join in.
The unfancied Asians, who stunned 10-man Colombia 2-1 in their opener, brought the scores on level term in the 34th minute when Takashi Inui bent the ball wonderfully into the bottom corner.
Backed by a vocal Japanese following who never stopped singing and with the locals also on their side, Japan were now the better side after a nervous start.
On 71 minutes, Japan allowed a scuffed cross to go right across their goal and defender Moussa Wague arrived all alone at the far post to grab what looked like being an unlikely winner.
But Honda, the former AC Milan midfielder who had only been on the pitch six minutes, hit the late equaliser to leave Group H up for grabs.