Spirited Japan Holds off Senegal

Senegalese players cut glum figures in the aftermath of a hotly charged up affair that saw Japan come from behind twice to equalize 2-2 –not the result the rest of Africa wanted.

In a match that had gaffer Aliou Cisse effecting only a single alternation to the team that bullied Poland – resting Biram Diouf for Pa Ababacar Ndiaye, it took skipper Sadio Mane only eleven minutes to unlock the Blue Samurai defence.

Youssouf Sabaly, having a terrific outing with his explosive pace in the World Cup, controlled the rebound to slam in a piercing shot from inside the oppositions box with his not-so-popular right-foot. Japan’s goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima punched the ball, deflecting off Sadio Mane and into the net.

Photo: Sadio Mane gets touch of the ball for Senegal’s first goal

Then Takashi Iui evened matters in the 34th minute as the score stood at one-all into the break. Galatasary’s Yuto Nagatomo surged forward finding his way between two Senegalese defenders. Takashi Inui barged in, flipping to the left and back to the right to find space. A destabilised Salif Sane tried to slide in with a one-footed effort to block the onslaught but Inui had placed his curly shot, slaloming first past Kalidou Koulibaly and then the hapless net-minder Khadim Ndiaye as the Asians equalized sending the stadium to raptures.

Photo: Inui’s first equalizing goal for Japan

Japan, termed underdogs in the build-up to the match, dominated possession for a good part of the game. It however was not a one-way traffic either with Senegal always looking threatening on the counter and their persistence paid off.

Sabaly galloped down to the left wing, stylishly beating past his marker to spread in a low drive which Mbaye Niang connected to AS Eupen and debutant Moussa Wague who powered home the Teranga Lions’ second goal in the 71^st minute.

Photo: debutant Moussa Wague scored Senegal’s second goal

Prior this, France-born Niang had been put through by Alfred John Momar N’Diaye’s teasing over-head pass. Mbaye –the hero in the opening fixture – under pressure from Southampton’s Maya Yoshinda, chose to whip it at the keeper who’d wandered out in anticipation.

Just when the crowd in the stadium  and the rest of the continent began warming up to the feeling of yet another win in the bag, Senegal’s defence yet again were found culpable and something of a shambles, causing Japan to score a second via Honda eventually forcing a share of the spoils.

Photo: Honda rescued it for Japan

Both Japan and Senegal are tied on the table log with each on four points as Poland and Colombia occupy the basement.

Senegal plays again Thursday.