Live updates: Netherlands vs Japan

Live updates: Netherlands vs Japan

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By Simon Smale

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103

Key Events

15

Netherlands vs Japan

41

Goals

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Germany vs Curacao

61

Comments

4

PANDEMONIUM

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By Amanda Shalala

I thought it was loud before, but NOW it is next level.

The many, many, thousands of Samurai Blue fans around the stadium are jumping, screaming, and letting it all out.

Incredible to have so many supporters from both teams here, and as an impartial observer with no heavy emotional investment, I can actually enjoy the spectacle!

57' JAPAN ARE LEVEL!

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By Simon Smale

Keito Nakamura with the shot from the edge of the penalty area!

Daizen Maeda was there next to Jan Paul van Hecke and was there a touch? Maybe from van Hecke?!

If not, Maeda would have been offside.

The goal has been cleared and Japan are back on level terms!

Disappointing from the Japanese defence

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By Simon Smale

Orange heat cracks the blue wall. Hm, a bit of Japan defence ball watching there? Caught by surprise so not marking up.

- Big Ben

You only need to switch off for a second and that's what the Japanese defence did there.

Again, the push may have created the space, but it was just a bit soft from the defence.

And now the Holland fans are in full voice!

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By Amanda Shalala

Virgil van Dijk's goal has brought them to life! The goal was scored right in front of the big Dutch block, and they have shown their appreciation.

But to the Ultras Nippon credit, they are not stopping.

This has been a great game, with a top shelf atmosphere to match.

51' THE NETHERLANDS LEAD!

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By Simon Smale

Virgil van Dijk has the opener!

The Liverpool centre back was up for a free kick that was half-cleared by the Japanese defence.

Denzel Dumfries got the ball on the right side, whipped the cross to the back post, where van Dijk was all on his own.

The gap was created by just a little push but that was not enough to rule out the goal.

He cushioned his header, and it crept in off the far post.

The Dutch lead!

49' Japan looking long

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By Simon Smale

The Dutch are monopolising possession at the start of the second half, but Japan attempt an outlet pass towards Ayase Ueda, but he can't get onto the long ball as if flies past him.

That's what Japan are reduced to at the moment.

47' Chance Netherlands

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By Simon Smale

Neat football from the Dutch.

Ryan Gravenberch slashes a cross in that fizzes through the space above the edge of the six-yard box, but there are no Dutch heads to get on the end of it.

Good football from the Netherlands.

46' Japan gets us underway in the second half

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By Simon Smale

I enjoyed that first half, Lydia Williams called it a "tactical chess match" and that's exactly what it was.

Cowboy country to football heaven

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By Amanda Shalala

The Japanese and Dutch fans both had pre-match celebrations yesterday which I checked out.

They both have such passionate, and large travelling supporter bases, and it was fascinating to get an understanding of how Dallas and Texas is getting into this World Cup.

HT: All square in entertaining half

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By Simon Smale

Japan have had to do a lot of defending, but they have had two really big chances to score a goal in that half.

The Dutch should have gone ahead early, Donyell Malen missing a guilt-edged chance thanks to a superb save from Suzuki in the Japanese goal.

The Netherlands have pressed hard and put the Japanese under a lot of pressure, but it's been relatively comfortable all up by the defence.

It's been a very entertaining half of football.

45+3' Chance Netherlands!

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By Simon Smale

The corner is swept in at a beautiful height by Reijnders.

It is met by Donyell Malen but he can't get much power on it and it's a solid yet comfortable stop by Suzuki.

45' CHANCE JAPAN!

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By Simon Smale

Another one! The tide has shifted back from Oranje to blue!

Another long ball forward into the penalty area, looking to catch the centre backs out.

There is a first time shot from Ayase Ueda that ripples the net and sets some of the crowd off cheering, but it's only hit the side netting.

There will be three minutes added on.

43' Chance Japan!

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By Simon Smale

NAKAMURA!

That's so close!

The cross was superb, centre back Shōgo Taniguchi delivering the ball again, straight to an unmarked Keito Nakamura inside the penalty area.

The shot should have been on target, but it didn't get there and clips the outside of its post on the way behind.

42' Japan with a rare foray forward

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By Simon Smale

Nakamura gets onto the end of a Japanese outlet ball and they do have an attacking chance now.

Keito Nakamura down the left side, but then he crosses far too deep and it's out for a throw in.

Japan needed that little break there just to move the dial.

39' The hydration break has changed the game

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By Simon Smale

Japan were ever so slightly on top for mine in the opening quarter of this game, but growing all the time.

Since the quarter time ad break though it's been all Netherlands, the Japanese reduced to camping inside their own penalty area and hammering the ball away up field with no outlet up there to aim at.

It's been a remarkable turn around and even the ubiquitous chanting of the Japanese fans has died down a little bit.

36' Chance Netherlands!

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By Simon Smale

A free kick from Tijjani Reijnders.

It's nodded down towards Cody Gakpo who slides and stretches and hammers the ball well high and over the crossbar from eight yards out.

34' Chance Netherlands!

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By Simon Smale

Donyell Malen heads straight at Suzuki!

Suzuki fumbles and the Japanese clear their lines!

Remarkable header from Malen, he was being manhandled in amongst the usual rough and tumble in the box.

But he still got up between two Japanese players and headed goalwards.

Great spell of possession for the Dutch at the moment.

34' Netherlands corner

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By Simon Smale

The Japanese just can't quite get the ball away from their lines at the moment.

Daichi Kamada running out from his own area but being dispossessed.

The Dutch earn a corner