Japan started well against Colombia - very well - SO well in fact, that they had a penalty and their opponent reduced to 10 men within the opening five minutes. The man advantage certainly helped them in that win over a James Rodriguez-less Colombia but that isn't to say Japan weren't capable of beating them with the teams matched numerically.
There are some decent players in that team - Shinji Kagawa was excellent, as was Takashi Inui - but they have a tough game ahead - Senegal put on a real team performance in their win over Poland.
Japan's manager has a strategy though:
"In the last few days I told my players to grow 5cm and put on 5kg. They couldn’t do it. So instead we will have to try to win by using the ball well."
Senegal will be hoping for more of the same after their two goal win over a disappointing Poland and look like they could be the only African team to escape the group stage (assuming they actually do of course).
There are some hugely talented players in the Senegal side, with the star being Sadio Mane of Liverpool. Kalidou Koulibaly is a superb defender and in addition to pace out wide, Senegal look organised and well drilled. They're a real threat and could do pretty well in this tournament.
Team news should be with us soon, at which point we might be able to tell a little bit more about this game will go but expect both teams to start cautiously until they figure each other out. Senegal vs Poland was really boring in the first half because they both played the same team shape - there's a danger that happens here too.
Stay with us for all the build-up and live coverage of the game!
Japan twice came from behind to draw 2-2 with Senegal in their Group H encounter. Goals from Senegal captain Sadio Mane and Moussa Wague were matched by strikes from Takashi Inui and Keisuke Honda for the Samurai Blue.Japan's Makoto Hasebe is bookedAnother Senegal player booked - Cheikh N’DoyeFour minutes added as stoppage timeSenegal's Youssouf Sabaly is booked late in the gameGoal-scorer Takashi Inui is replaced by Takashi Usami for JapanMbaye Niang is replaced by Mama Biram Diouf for SenegalPape Ndiaye is replaced by Cheikh N’Doye for SenegalSubstitute Honda levelled it for Japan. Honda controlled the cross-in from Takashi Inui and shot it into the net from eight yards.Genki Haraguchi is replaced by Shinji Okazaki for JapanCorner for Japan. Yuya Osako shot was blocked. Japan shouted for a hand ball, but ref said no.Shinji Kagawa is replaced by Keisuke Honda for JapanThe 19-year-old right-back Wague shot it into the roof of the net from a tight angle, Youssouf Sabaly with the low cross.Free-kick for Senegal. Another weak Senegal delivery from the set-piece, easily cleared by JapanJapan's Takashi Inui is booked for a foul on Ismaila Sarr just outside the Japan boxAlfred Ndiaye is replaced by Cheikhou Kouyate for SenegalTakashi Inui made a good run inside the Senegal box from the left flank and curled the ball towards the top corner. But unfortunately, it went out after hitting the crossbar.Yuya Osako wasted another chance for Japan. A good run from the Asian teamYuya Osako needed just a touch to tap-in the ball into an empty net, but failed to do so.First booking of the night to Senegal's Mbaye NiangMbaye Niang with a long-ranger this time, but it went straight to Japanese goalkeeper Eiji KawashimaPape Ndiaye skied it over the Japan crossbar from the top of the boxCorner for Senegal. Comfortably cleared by JapanSecond half is underway...Group leaders Japan and Senegal are deadlocked at a goal apiece at halftime. Takashi Inui evened the score when he curled the ball just inside the right post in the 34th minute. Sadio Mane put Senegal up in the 11th when Japanese keeper Eiji Kawashima ill-advisedly tried to punch clear a low shot and it ricocheted off Mane.One minute added as stoppage timeAnother corner for Senegal. A weak delivery and is easily cleared outEiji Kawashima charged out to block Mbaye Niang's effort from 18 yardsWHAT A STRIKE! A brilliant goal from Inui. Inui collected the ball at the left side of penalty box from Yuto Nagatomo and curled it towards bottom corner from 15 yards. No chance for Senegal goalkeeper Khadim NdiayeJapan have slightly more possession so far with 51%Mbaye Niang with the delivery, but the header from Alfred Ndiaye hit Japanese defender.Corner for Senegal.Senegal in no time reached the Japan box from the counter attack. Moussa Wague's cross-in from right was met by Ismaila Sarr's volley from 10 yards, and it needed a diving save from Japanese goalkeeper Eiji KawashimaFirst corner for Japan. Short corner was intercepted by Senegal players and they are off for a counter.Free-kick for Japan from the left flank. The delivery was easily cleared out by Senegal defendersMakoto Hasebe's long ranger was blocked by the Japanese teammate in front of Senegal goalMoussa Wague's cross-in from the right flank was headed out weakly by Genki Haraguchi. Youssouf Sabaly then shot it towards the goal from the left flank and the Japanese goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima palmed it directly to Mane's leg. And the ball rolled into the net with the deflection.The game has slowed down a bit, after early attacks from SenegalSecond corner for Senegal. Cleared out easily again, and the long ranger from Youssouf Sabaly went well over the Japan crossbarCorner for Senegal. The delivery into the Japan box was missed by all the players. No trouble for Japanese goalkeeper Eiji KawashimaEarly incursion into Japanese penalty area by Senegal. Cleared out by defendersHere we go..*Time for National Anthems*Senegal brought in midfielder Badou Ndiaye in place of Stoke City team mate Mame Biram Diouf while Japan named an unchanged side for Sunday's World Cup Group H match.The experienced Keisuke Honda and Shinji Okazaki, who both came on as substitutes in Japan's 2-1 win over Colombia, remain on the bench, with Yuya Osako leading the attack on a bright sunny evening in Yekaterinburg.Senegal also won their first match 2-1 against Poland, and a win would see them advance to the last 16 if Colombia fail to beat Poland later in the day.Eiji Kawashima, Gen Shoji, Yuto Nagatomo, Hiroki Sakai, Maya Yoshida, Gaku Shibasaki, Genki Haraguchi, Shinji Kagawa, Takashi Inui, Makoto Hasebe (capt), Yuya Osako. Coach: Akira Nishino (JPN)Khadim Ndiaye, Moussa Wague, Kalidou Koulibaly, Salif Sane, Youssouf Sabaly, Alfred Ndiaye, Idrissa Gueye, Sadio Mane (capt), Ismaila Sarr, Pape Ndiaye, Mbaye Niang. Coach: Aliou Cisse (SEN)Gianluca Rocchi (ITA)Helloand welcome to the live coverage of Group H match between Japan and Senegal. The match starts at 20:30 IST.
Substitute Keisuke Honda equalised with 12 minutes left as Japan twice pegged back Senegal in a thrilling 2-2 draw on Sunday that leaves World Cup Group H wide open.
All eyes will now be on the other group match later in the evening between Poland and Colombia following this stalemate at the Yekaterinburg Arena.
As it stands, Japan and Senegal have four points after two games, with Colombia and Poland on zero, though they have played a game less.
Midfielder Honda was the hero for Japan, scoring the deserved leveller after goalkeeper Khadim N’Diaye flapped at a cross.
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Group leaders locked in draw 1:16
Keisuke Honda of Japan celebrates after scoring the winning goal. Source: Getty Images
Senegal, who reached the quarter-finals in the country’s previous World Cup appearance in 2002, needed just over 10 minutes to go in front.
Japan failed to deal with a right-wing cross with Genki Haraguchi nodding the ball straight to Senegal defender Youssouf Sabaly in the box.
He fired at Eiji Kawashima and the goalkeeper made a mess of it, punching the ball into the lurking Liverpool star Sadio Mane.
Sadio Mane of Senegal celebrates after scoring. Source: Getty Images
The ball bounced off the striker and into the net for his first goal at this tournament -- cue raucous Senegal celebrations with Khadim N’Diaye racing the length of the pitch to join in.
This match was billed as the pace and power of Senegal against the tactical and technical nous of Japan, who took a gamble and replaced Vahid Halilhodzic with Akira Nishino as coach just weeks before the World Cup.
It appeared to pay off when the unfancied Asians stunned 10-man Colombia 2-1 in their opener, and on 34 minutes they were level with Senegal when Takashi Inui bent the ball wonderfully into the bottom corner.
Japan's midfielder Takashi Inui celebrates after scoring a goal. Source: AFP
Backed by a vocal Japanese following who never stopped singing and with the locals also on their side, Japan were now the better side after a nervous start.
Mane found himself at left-back at one point as the Blue Samurai threatened to slice their way through, in what was growing to be an absorbing contest in the warm Yekaterinburg evening.
Aliou Cisse, Senegal’s likeable coach and their skipper in that World Cup run in 2002, sent his substitutes to warm up five minutes into the second period as Japan began the half the better.
Head coach of Senegal Aliou Cisse celebrates his sides second goal. Source: Getty Images
Working down the Africans’ left side, the 26-year-old talisman Mane was only a sporadic danger.
Japan should have taken the lead on the hour but Yuya Osako, the match-winner against Colombia, somehow missed the ball when unmarked inside Senegal’s six-yard box.
Inui then struck the bar from distance after the Senegal defence went AWOL.
On 71 minutes, Japan allowed a scuffed cross to go right across their goal and defender Moussa Wague arrived all alone at the far post to grab what looked like being an unlikely winner.
But Honda, the former AC Milan midfielder who had only been on the pitch six minutes, hit the late equaliser to leave Group H up for grabs
Takashi Inui of Japan scores his team's first goal. Source: Getty Images
Goals galore as faves soar 2:29
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