Surprise Group H leaders, Senegal and Japan, played to a 2-2 draw in one of the more entertaining matches of the Group stages so far in this World Cup in Ekaterinburg.  With their respective wins over Poland and Colombia earlier in the week, both Japan still remain atop Group H with 4 points each.

The scoring began with an unfortunate attempt at clearance from Japanese defender Genki Haraguchi which landed at the feet of Senegal’s Youssef Sabaly.  Sabaly attempts a shot on goal is punched away by the goalkeeper directly to Senegal’s Sadio Mane who slots it past the keeper for his first goal at the 2018 World Cup.  Senegal had a chance to go up by 2 goals with Senegal’s Moussa Wague’s attempt at one-timing a shot towards goal that was well contained by Japanese keeper, Eiji Kawashima.

Japan was able to even the match up before halftime with a goal in the 34th minute.  The goal came off of a charging run from Japan’s Yuto Nagatomi who then lays it off for the winger, Takashi Inui, who was able to curl it past two Senegalese defenders and a diving goalkeeper for his first goal of the tournament.  Senegal was able to control play for much of the first half but were not able to stop Japan from finding their way back into the match.

Japan began the second half with several attempts at taking the lead, most notably in the 64th minute when Yuya Osako laid out a pass to Takashi Inui, whose shot rattled off the far, top corner of the goal.  It was an unfortunate miss as Senegal was able to put up a goal, just seven minutes later. Senegal’s Moussa Wague was able to slot home a goal past the keeper off of a through pass into the box from forward M’Baye Niang in the 71st minute to put Senegal up 2-1.

Unfortunately, Senegal’s fortunes did not last long, as Japanese substitute and former AC Milan star, Keisuke Honda, was able to put away a cross from Inui into the back of an open goal.  The Senegalese defense was unable to handle an Osaka cross into the box, and the ball rolled to Inui’s feet. Inui calmly centered the ball to a waiting Honda who plants it into the back of the net to bring things to all even in the 78th minute.

Both Senegal and Japan go into the final day of group stages with their destiny in their own hands.  If both sides win their respective matches against Colombia and Poland, they will be the two teams advancing to the knockout stages.  As both matches kickoff on Thursday, June 28th, the fate of Group H will be very much up at stake.