Moriyasu: Japan Grit Secures 2-2 Draw, But We Wanted 3 Points
Japan fought back from 1-0 and 2-1 down to draw 2-2 with Netherlands at the World Cup. Moriyasu was proud but disappointed as Sweden vs Tunisia completes Group F Sunday.
Moriyasu Praises Japan’s tenacity in draw World Cup Draw vs Netherlands. Blue Samurai come from behind twice in 2-2 World Cup thriller vs Dutch...
Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu praised his side’s fightback to earn a 2-2 draw with the Netherlands at the World Cup Sunday. He was proud of their resilience but said he was disappointed they didn’t win.
Japan held firm defensively in the first half and frustrated the Dutch, even creating a few chances themselves. The game exploded in Texas with three goals in 13 minutes, and the Blue Samurai snatched a late equalizer two minutes from full time.
Grit Turns It Around.
The Netherlands struck first, 6 minutes into the second half, when Virgil van Dijk lost his marker and headed in Ryan Gravenberch’s cross. Japan answered quickly though, with Keito Nakamura blasting a low, hard shot to make it 1-1.
Crysencio Summerville put the Dutch back in front with a brilliant curler off the far post. Then it was end-to-end chances until sub Koki Ogawa nodded in a neat header that bounced in off Daichi Kamada to seal the 2-2.
“The Netherlands were very strong, we were trailing behind, a very difficult opponent, the players were united as one, tenacious, they fought to the end and did not cease to persevere,” Moriyasu told a press conference.
“Of course, we're not completely satisfied with just the one point for the draw.”
Moriyasu said his team defended well in the first half, but settling for a draw was never the plan. Even after falling behind, he believed they could hang in and still take all three points.
“Of course, it was tough for them to fight back ... they managed to be tenacious and at the same time be patient and keep calm and find and seize the opportunities. So I'm very proud that they could keep their own pace,” he said.
“We were aiming to get three points, not one point. So in that point of view, of course it was a little bit disappointing.”
Sweden play Tunisia later Sunday in Monterrey in Group F’s other game. Japan face Tunisia next in Monterrey on June 20th.
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