- Senegal, Japan both have four points
- Mane, Wague twice put Senegal ahead
- Inui, Honda equalize twice for Japan
Japan and Senegal played to an entertaining 2-2 draw in Yekaterinburg to leave Group H finely balanced heading into the final round of games.
[ SCENARIOS: Who needs what, to finish where, in final round of group games ]
Sadio Mane and Moussa Wague twice put Senegal ahead but Japan fought back with goals from Takashi Inui and Keisuke Honda to grab a point.
Both teams now have four points heading into their final group games, with Japan facing Poland and Senegal playing against Colombia on Thursday.
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Senegal started superbly and Mane was denied by a timely block when he got a shot away from close range early on. But the Liverpool man wasn’t to be denied his first World Cup goal.
Shortly after a cross from the right was only half cleared and Youssouf Sabaly’s shot was punched out by Eiji Kawashima but straight into Mane as the ball ricocheted off him and in. A slightly fortuitous goal from Mane but Senegal deserved the lead.
[ MORE: Latest 2018 World Cup news ]
Japan had a few opportunities from distance and grew into the game as an equalizer arrived before half time.
Nagatomo controlled the ball superbly and he played it inside to Inui who curled home a beauty into the far corner to make it 1-1.
Senegal then had a great chance on the break but Niang’s shot was saved by on the onrushing Kawashima.
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At the start of the second half Osaka’s header lacked power as N’Diaye saved, then at the other end Niang volleyed over in an end-to-end encounter.
Osako then squandered a wonderful chance after a fine move down the right saw Shibasaki cross to him six yards out but the Japanese forward somehow missed the ball entirely.
Japan went even closer soon after as Inui again curled a beautiful shot in on goal from the left side of the box but this time his effort pinged off the crossbar and went over.
Wague then put Senegal ahead as they worked the ball from the left to the far post and the 19-year-old right back arrived to smash home as the Lions of Teranga celebrated.
Osako had a shot superbly blocked by Salif Sane but then Senegal shot themselves in the foot as N’Diaye came for a cross and got it all wrong.
That led to Honda having a simple tap in to make it 2-2 and that is how an entertaining encounter finished.
