Japan equalise with last kick to draw with Mali in World Cup warmup
Soccer Football - International Friendly - Kirin Challenge Cup 2018 - Japan vs Mali - Stadium Maurice Dufrasne, Liege, Belgium - March 23, 2018 Japan’s Shoya Nakajima after the match REUTERS/Eric Vidal
LIEGE, Belgium (Reuters) - Japan’s Shoya Nakajima equalised five minutes into stoppage time with the last kick of the match to secure a 1-1 draw against Mali in a World Cup warmup friendly on Friday.
Nakajima was unmarked at the back post to finish, as Japan were rewarded for their relentless attacking after falling behind just before the interval.
Abdoulay Diaby, who is the top scorer for Belgian league leaders Club Bruges, netted a penalty in the 43rd minute to give Mali the halftime lead in front of a largely empty stadium at the home of Standard Liege.
Soccer Football - International Friendly - Kirin Challenge Cup 2018 - Japan vs Mali - Stadium Maurice Dufrasne, Liege, Belgium - March 23, 2018 Mali’s Abdoulay Diaby celebrates scoring their first goal REUTERS/Eric Vidal
The match, which Japan hoped would give them an indication of the style of play they can expect from Mali’s neighbours Senegal at the World Cup, kicked off at lunch time in Belgium to accommodate Japanese television.
Japan will continue their World Cup preparations at the same venue against Ukraine on Tuesday.
Japan play in Group H at the World Cup and face Senegal in Ekaterinburg on June 24. They play Poland and Colombia in their other two group fixtures.
Soccer Football - International Friendly - Kirin Challenge Cup 2018 - Japan vs Mali - Stadium Maurice Dufrasne, Liege, Belgium - March 23, 2018 Japan’s Yuya Osako in action with Mali’s Mamadou Fofana REUTERS/Eric Vidal
(Reporting by Mark Gleeson; Editing by Toby Davis)
Soccer Football - International Friendly - Kirin Challenge Cup 2018 - Japan vs Mali - Stadium Maurice Dufrasne, Liege, Belgium - March 23, 2018 Japan’s Shoya Nakajima shoots at goal REUTERS/Eric VidalSoccer Football - International Friendly - Kirin Challenge Cup 2018 - Japan vs Mali - Stadium Maurice Dufrasne, Liege, Belgium - March 23, 2018 Japan fans REUTERS/Eric VidalSoccer Football - International Friendly - Kirin Challenge Cup 2018 - Japan vs Mali - Stadium Maurice Dufrasne, Liege, Belgium - March 23, 2018 Japan’s Yu Kobayashi in action with Mali’s Hadi Sacko REUTERS/Eric VidalSoccer Football - International Friendly - Kirin Challenge Cup 2018 - Japan vs Mali - Stadium Maurice Dufrasne, Liege, Belgium - March 23, 2018 Japan’s Shoya Nakajima celebrates scoring their first goal REUTERS/Eric VidalSoccer Football - International Friendly - Kirin Challenge Cup 2018 - Japan vs Mali - Stadium Maurice Dufrasne, Liege, Belgium - March 23, 2018 Birds on the pitch during the game REUTERS/Eric Vidal TPX IMAGES OF THE DAYSoccer Football - International Friendly - Kirin Challenge Cup 2018 - Japan vs Mali - Stadium Maurice Dufrasne, Liege, Belgium - March 23, 2018 Japan’s Yuya Osako in action with Mali’s Molla Wague REUTERS/Eric VidalSoccer Football - International Friendly - Kirin Challenge Cup 2018 - Japan vs Mali - Stadium Maurice Dufrasne, Liege, Belgium - March 23, 2018 Japan’s Keisuke Honda speaks to the referee REUTERS/Eric Vidal
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