Late header from Japans Daichi Kamada forces World Cup draw with Netherlands
ARLINGTON, Texas — Daichi Kamada and his Japanese teammates were minutes away from a World Cup-opening loss that wouldn’t have been unexpected considering the opponent.His tying goal will be remembered for a long time in his homeland, especially if the country with some soccer momentum reaches the round of 16 again.Kamada scored on a header off Koki Ogawa’s corner kick in the 88th minute, sending the Samurai Blue fans into a frenzy and giving Japan a 2-2 draw with the higher-ranked Netherlands on Sunday.While the Dutch extended their unbeaten streak to 17 games in group play, the orange-clad Oranje supporters were stunned by the late goal that left them at 21-2-11 in group play at the World Cup.“Our players managed to be tenacious but at the same time be patient and just keep calm and finding and seizing an opportunity,” Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu said through an interpreter.His team reached the round of 16 for the fourth time in 2022 in Qatar.Virgil Van Dijk and Crysencio Summerville scored off each post for the Netherlands early in the second half, while Keito Nakamura had a goal between those as part of a three-goal flurry in just 14 minutes.A mostly uneventful first half changed quickly after the break for a crowd evenly split at AT&T Stadium, the home of the Dallas Cowboys with the retractable roof that offered relief from the muggy Texas heat, and the giant video board that fans had a hard time keeping their eyes off.Summerville gave the eighth-ranked Dutch the lead in the 64th minute, and Japan was running out of hope when Ogawa sent the corner that Kamada timed perfectly.
The ball deflected slightly again on its way toward Bart Verbruggen, who got his hands on it with a sprawling dive but couldn’t keep it from going in.Van Dijk sent a header toward the far post on the right in the 50th minute, bending forward from inside the penalty area as he stared at the ball before it caromed in for the Dutch captain’s 13th international goal.Nakamura...