Japan 1-1 Sweden: Anthony Elanga strike cancels out Daizen Maeda opener as both qualify
Anthony Elanga was the savior for Sweden as his stunning second-half strike canceled out Daizen Maeda’s beautifully worked opener to earn a 1-1 draw against Japan, securing knockout stage football for both nations at a packed Dallas Stadium.
A highly anticipated final Group F showdown burst into life after the interval following a cagey opening 45 minutes, with the point ensuring Hajime Moriyasu’s side finish as runners-up to line up a blockbuster Round of 32 meeting with Brazil. Graham Potter’s Sweden must wait to discover their exact opponents, but a haul of four points guarantees they advance as one of the best third-placed teams.
An evenly contested first half largely lacked final-product quality as both teams prioritised tactical discipline, while also navigating premature defensive reshuffles. Sweden lost center-back Isak Hien to injury after half an hour, while Japan were forced to substitute Ko Itakura just before the break. The closest either side came to a breakthrough arrived courtesy of Keito Nakamura, whose stinging low drive forced an excellent full-stretch stop from Swedish keeper Jacob Widell Zetterstrom.
The contest shifted gears drastically ten minutes after the restart when Japan unlocked the Swedish rearguard with a goal of the absolute highest caliber. Ritsu Doan orchestrated the move, cutting inside from the flank to exchange a sharp pass with Ayase Ueda before sliding a meticulous ball through the defensive lines. Maeda anticipated the delivery perfectly, guiding a composed first-time finish into the far corner to break the deadlock.
Japan’s celebrations were cut short just six minutes later, however, as Sweden struck back with a moment of individual brilliance. Picking up a loose ball on the edge of the penalty area, Newcastle winger Elanga cut inside onto his left foot and unleashed a magnificent curling effort that bypassed an unsighted Zion Suzuki to nestle in the side-netting.
The equalizer sparked a frantic final quarter. Alexander Isak came agonizingly close to turning the game on its head moments later, but Suzuki produced a sprawling save to deny the forward.
Deep into stoppage time, the Japanese goalkeeper came to his country’s rescue once more. Suzuki first lunged to parry away a dangerous Elanga attempt, before showing immense reflexes on the subsequent corner to tip Isak’s goal-bound header onto the crossbar. The final whistle brought a shared sense of relief and celebration to Arlington, with both camps safely booking their places in the tournament’s next phase.
