Van Dijk and Summerville Strike but Japan Fight Back Twice to Earn 2-2 Draw

Virgil van Dijk and Crysencio Summerville gave the Netherlands the lead twice, but Keito Nakamura and Daichi Kamada responded on each occasion to secure a thrilling draw in Dallas.

The Netherlands and Japan played out a thrilling 2-2 draw in their Group F opener at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, as the Samurai Blue twice came from behind to deny the Dutch a winning start to their World Cup campaign.

After a competitive but cagey first half that ended scoreless, the game exploded after the interval. Dutch captain Virgil van Dijk broke the deadlock in the 50th minute, nodding home a corner delivered by Ryan Gravenberch. The defender’s powerful header seemed to settle the Europeans.

Japan responded instantly. Just six minutes later, Keito Nakamura whipped a low drive through heavy traffic that took a deflection past Dutch goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen, pulling the Samurai Blue level.

The Netherlands restored their lead in the 64th minute through a moment of individual brilliance. West Ham forward Crysencio Summerville cut inside from the left edge of the box and curled a spectacular finish off the far post, leaving Japanese goalkeeper Zion Suzuki with no chance.

Just as the Netherlands looked set to claim all three points, Japan struck again. In the 88th minute, Daichi Kamada rose highest to head home from Koki Ogawa’s corner, earning a hard-fought draw for the Asian side.

The Netherlands dominated possession with 60 percent and registered 11 shots to Japan’s eight. Both sides managed seven shots on target each. Passing accuracy was nearly identical, with the Netherlands at 89 percent and Japan at 88 percent.

Japan secured the vital result despite playing without star winger Kaoru Mitoma, who missed the match due to a pre-tournament injury. The match was played under the closed roof of the futuristic Dallas Stadium, packing in an official attendance of 69,285 fans.

According to a report by Accra Street Journal, with both Group F heavyweights picking up a point, the group remains entirely open. Sweden and Tunisia are scheduled to play their opening match on Monday. The Netherlands will look to tighten their defence after conceding twice, while Japan will take confidence from their resilience against a higher-ranked opponent.

Source: Accra Street Journal 

Last Updated on June 14, 2026 by Samuel Kwame Boadu

Samuel Kwame Boadu

Samuel Kwame Boadu is a Ghanaian media entrepreneur and storyteller with a passion for amplifying urban voices and uncovering everyday truths. He is the Editor-in-Chief and Founder of Accra Street Journal, a dynamic digital platform dedicated to capturing the pulse of Ghana’s capital—its people, culture, challenges, business, sports and innovations.

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