Goal in the 89th minute

LIVE: The Netherlands face Japan again

Koki Ogawa celebrates with Takehiro Tomiyasu(Bild: AP/Julio Cortez)

The Netherlands could not manage more than a draw against Japan in their opening match of the World Cup. After taking the lead twice, the “Oranje” had to settle for a 2-2 (0-0) draw in the Group F showdown.

The goals for the three-time World Cup finalists were scored by captain Virgil van Dijk (51') and Crysencio Summerville (64'). In front of 69,285 spectators in Dallas, former LASK pro Keito Nakamura (57th) and Daichi Kamada (89th) struck back for the Japanese.

(Bild: AFP/ARIC BECKER)

As expected, Oranje head coach Ronald Koeman opted for Donyell Malen over Memphis Depay in the center of the attack. The AS Roma forward made his presence felt as early as the third minute with a shot on the turn. The Japanese let the Dutch—who are ranked eighth in the world, ten spots above them—control the game but defended with discipline. Goalkeeper Zion Suzuki had to make only one more save before halftime, on a header by Malen (34th minute). At the other end, Nakamura (43') and striker Ayase Ueda (45') each hit the side netting.

Three goals in 14 minutes
After the break, Van Dijk struck first. The 34-year-old placed his header perfectly off a cross from Ryan Gravenberch, hitting the inside post and finding the far corner. Less than six minutes later, Nakamura—who moved from LASK to Stade Reims in 2023 for €12 million, making him the most expensive sale in the Linz club’s history—equalized with a blocked, slightly deflected shot from the edge of the penalty area.

(Bild: AP/Jessica Tobias)

Just before the final commercial and water break, the Dutch were back in the lead: Summerville cut in from the right corner of the box toward the center in Arjen Robben style and placed the ball precisely into the far corner. For the 24-year-old from Premier League relegation side West Ham United, it was his first goal in his third international match. Suzuki prevented worse for the Japanese with a save against Cody Gakpo (73'). Substitute Depay was lucky to get away with just a yellow card for a hard shoulder charge on Shogo Taniguchi (83').

(Bild: AP/Jessica Tobias)

 equalizes with a deflected header“Oranje” came under some pressure in the closing minutes—and conceded the equalizer off a corner kick. Substitute Koki Ogawa, who plays for NEC Nijmegen in the Netherlands, headed the ball off his teammate Kamada. Goalie Bart Verbruggen was unable to stop the deflected ball. “It’s a team effort. Unfortunately, we didn’t win, but we’ll make up for it in the next game,” promised Van Dijk. “Hopefully, there will be even more Oranje shirts in the stadium then.”

Support from the travel-loving Dutch fans was already strong in Dallas. Their next trip takes them to Houston on Saturday. There, their team—unbeaten in 17 consecutive World Cup group stage matches since 1994—will face Sweden. For the Japanese, the action continues in Monterrey against Tunisia.

Netherlands – Japan 2–2 (0–0)
Dallas, 69,285 spectators, Referee Elfath (USA)

Goals:
1–0 (51') Van Dijk
1–1 (57') Nakamura
2:1 (64') Summerville
2-2 (89') Kamada

Netherlands: Verbruggen – Dumfries, Van Hecke, Van Dijk, Van de Ven – Gravenberch (81. Ake), F. de Jong, Reijnders (70' Koopmeiners) – Summerville (70' Q. Timber), Malen (70' Depay), Gakpo (85' Brobbey)

Japan: Z . Suzuki – Watanabe (75. Tomiyasu), Taniguchi, H. Ito – Doan (75. Sugawara), Sano, Kamada, Nakamura – Kubo (75. Ogawa), Ueda (84. Shiogai), Maeda (66. Ito)

Yellow cards: Summerville , Depay, Van de Ven; none