Sint-Truiden players celebrate after Daichi Kamada's (second from right) second goal of the night against Westerlo on Saturday in Westerlo, Belgium. | KYODO

Soccer

Daichi Kamada's brace saves Sint-Truiden in Europa League playoffs

Kyodo

WESTERLO, BELGIUM - Japan’s Daichi Kamada netted a brace in Sint-Truiden’s 2-2 away draw with Westerlo on Saturday in the Belgian first-division Europa League playoffs.

Kamada equalized just after the break and put Sint-Truiden ahead in the 70th minute before Kurt Abrahams struck back for the home team seven minutes later. Westerlo forward Jens Naessens had opened the scoring in the 23rd.

The 22-year-old Kamada, on loan from German first-division side Eintracht Frankfurt, played a full match as did fellow countryman Takehiro Tomiyasu.

Kosuke Kinoshita featured for the visitors until the 65th minute as did Wataru Endo, who was substituted for Takahiro Sekine.

In the Belgian first-division championship playoffs, Junya Ito played a full match for Genk in their 2-1 home win over Gent.

LATEST SOCCER STORIES

Rakuten chairman Hiroshi Mikitani (left) and FC Barcelona technical secretary Eric Abidal pose at a news conference announcing the Spanish club's summer tour dates in Japan on Thursday in Tokyo.

FC Barcelona to meet Chelsea, Vissel Kobe in summer friendlies in Japan: FC Barcelona will face English Premier League veteran Chelsea and the J. League's Vissel Kobe this July, adding to the list of star-studded club friendlies set to take place in Japan this summer...

Nadeshiko Japan's Saki Kumagai, seen here against France's Valerie Gauvin during an April friendly, has been named a finalist for BBC's female Footballer of the Year award.

Nadeshiko's Saki Kumagai a finalist for BBC honor: With over 100 international caps and six seasons of service for women's soccer titan Olympique Lyonnais, defender Saki Kumagai is already recognized by those in the know as one of the sport's to...

Tottenham's Son Heung-min takes a shot against Manchester City in Champions League action at Etihad Stadium on Wednesday night.

Tottenham stuns Manchester City to reach semifinals: More than two minutes into stoppage time, Manchester City forward Raheem Sterling slid across the field and puffed his chest to the crowd, roaring in elation. Tottenham players collapsed to the ...