Sixty-six minutes. That’s roughly how long it took for this match to stop being a bore and start being unmissable. Once it ignited, though? Dallas Stadium was absolutely electric — and two nations held their breath until the very last kick.
Japan and Sweden served up a fascinating, nerve-shredding 1-1 draw at Dallas Stadium on Thursday night, a result that — with the Netherlands simultaneously thrashing Tunisia in Kansas City — sent both teams through to the Round of 32. Japan finish as Group F runners-up and will face Brazil. Sweden advance as one of the eight best third-placed teams and march on to face the winner of Group I. Not a bad outcome for either side. Getting there, though, was far from comfortable.
If the first half had been a film, critics would have walked out early. Both teams arrived knowing the stakes — Japan needed a draw to confirm second place, Sweden needed a win to leapfrog them — and the result was forty-five minutes of cautious, tightly wound football that rarely threatened to burst into life. Alexander Bernhardsson forced a routine save from Japan goalkeeper Zion Suzuki early on, Viktor Gyökeres threw his weight around up front without much reward, and Japan goalkeeper Suzuki commanded his area with a quiet authority. Goalless at the break. Nervy. Uneventful. But the story was only just beginning.
The second half was a completely different creature. Ten minutes after the restart, Japan broke the deadlock with a goal that had quality stamped all over it. Ritsu Doan — composed, clever, head up — threaded a brilliantly disguised through ball into the path of Daizen Maeda on the edge of the penalty area. The Celtic forward didn’t hesitate. He took the pass perfectly in his stride and slotted it past goalkeeper Jacob Widell Zetterström with his right foot. Japan in front, and the celebration was pure joy. It was also history — Japan’s seventh goal of the tournament, surpassing their previous best tally for an entire World Cup.
Sweden’s response? Immediate. Six minutes. That was all it took.
Anthony Elanga — Sweden’s most electric outlet all night — picked up the ball out wide, drove infield, and unleashed a ferocious left-footed drive from range. It was somewhere between a cross and a shot, a missile that dipped wickedly and flew beyond Suzuki, who had no chance. 1-1.
The Newcastle winger’s second goal of the tournament, and the celebration was as wild as the strike. Sweden were back in it — and suddenly scenting something more.
The final half-hour was breathless. Alexander Isak, Sweden’s predatory striker, went agonisingly close in the 65th minute — only denied by a brilliant Suzuki save. Then in stoppage time, Elanga drove into the box again only to be repelled once more by the Japanese shot-stopper. From the corner that followed, Isak connected with a thumping header — and watched it rattle the crossbar. The stadium held its breath. Japan held on.
Full time. 1-1. Smiles, relief, and mutual respect all round.
Japan go through unbeaten in a World Cup group stage for only the second time in their history, and they’ve earned a monster date with Brazil. Sweden, who were sitting bottom of their qualifying group just months ago before Graham Potter arrived and steadied the ship, live to fight another day.
Two nations, one draw, zero complaints. The knockout rounds await.
Man of the Match: Elanga
