Honda rescues Japan in Senegal thriller

Keisuke Honda levelled for Japan on Sunday as he came off the bench to net a 78th-minute equaliser and earn Japan a 2-2 draw against Senegal in the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Twice did the Japanese come from behind to draw level with the West African side who had shocked Poland 2-0 in their opening game.

Heading into their second Group H game on the back of Tuesday’s 2-1 win over Colombia, it initially looked as though the Samurai Blue would be falling to defeat.

Sadio Mane netted the Teranga Lions first goal of the match in the 11th minute only for Takashi Inui to equalise for Japan, and in the 71st minute 19-year-old Moussa Wague gave Senegal something to cheer thinking it was going to be the winning goal.

Six minutes later, Honda who replaced Shinji Kagawa was well placed to finish from close range to force the draw and – in the process – become the highest-scoring Asian in World Cup history with four goals.

He is also the first Japanese to find the back of the net in three different tournaments.

The result leaves the two teams joint-top of Group H and both will have reason to be confident in their prospects of reaching the Round of 16, with one match left to go in the group stage.

Senegal face Colombia while Poland are up against Japan.