ARLINGTON, Texas - Daichi Kamada equalized in the 88th minute to secure Japan a hard-fought 2-2 draw with the Netherlands in their opening World Cup clash on Sunday.
The Samurai Blue twice came from behind, with Keito Nakamura canceling out Virgil van Dijk's opener before Crysencio Summerville restored the three-time runners-up's lead, all in the second half of the first Group F encounter in front of 69,285 at Dallas Stadium.
Manager Hajime Moriyasu's unbeaten record against European opponents stretched to 10 games, comprising eight wins and two draws -- with the previous deadlock coming against Croatia before a subsequent penalty shootout defeat in the round of 16 at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Japan started Ritsu Doan as captain, with newly named skipper Ko Itakura on the bench, while Daizen Maeda got the nod to start in left attacking midfield as Japan began the game patiently against a talented Dutch side.
After Donyell Malen was allowed to turn inside the box, forcing Japan keeper Zion Suzuki into a save in the third minute, the Samurai Blue failed to make their occasional attacks count and mustered no clear shots on target as their defensive cohesion was tested.
Shogo Taniguchi blocked Malen's close-range effort after Japan lost possession, while Suzuki denied the forward's header off a corner before the Samurai Blue finally went close when an unmarked Nakamura firing narrowly wide of the near post.
Ayase Ueda went closer when his fierce first-time shot on the bounce, off Kamada's fine pass, hit the side-netting to close the goalless first half.
The Netherlands grabbed the lead five minutes into the second half when captain van Dijk's free header off Denzel Dumfries' cross went in off the far post.
Nakamura drew Japan level seven minutes later, after Takefusa Kubo created space down the left and pulled a ball back for the wide attacker, whose low drive from the edge of the box went through the defender's legs.
But the Samurai Blue were late to close down Summerville in the 64th minute, as the winger cut in from the right and shot through a cluster of defenders to find the back of the net off the far post, beyond the reach of a diving Suzuki.
With substitute Junya Ito causing trouble down the right, Moriyasu made a triple change with 15 minutes left, and his team drew level again when a header from substitute Koki Ogawa, who rose above van Dijk, took a touch off Kamada and sailed past Dutch keeper Bart Verbruggen.
