A World Cup campaign that threatened to be an ordeal for Japan is turning into one of steadily growing conviction. If the Samurai Blue can produce another performance like Sunday's 2-2 draw with Senegal, a place in the knockout round will be theirs for the taking.
Japan defied the odds again in Russia by twice fighting back from a goal down to claim a point against the West Africans, giving Akira Nishino's side four points from two games following an opening 2-1 win over Colombia. Japan can clinch a place in the second round with at least a draw against Poland in Volgograd on Thursday, although even a defeat could see the team advance past the group stage for the third time in World Cup history.
Such a strong position looked far beyond reach for much of the first half in Yekaterinburg on Sunday, with Senegal taking an 11th-minute lead through Sadio Mane and Japan looking likely to concede again at any moment. Takashi Inui's 34th-minute equalizer changed the face of the game entirely, however, and from that point on Japan found a composure and attacking verve that allowed it to hit back again through Keisuke Honda in the 78th minute after Moussa Wague's 71st-minute goal looked to have given Senegal all three points.