Japan were looking to keep their hopes of winning the group alive, but it was Sweden who notched the game’s first shot on target, though Alexander Bernhardsson was unable to truly test Zion Suzuki. Clear-cut chances were at a premium in a first half in which Japan were often the better side, and Graham Potter's men suffered a real blow when key defender Isak Hien was forced off through injury before the break.
The Samurai Blue - who also made a change before HT - had the half's best chance on the stroke of the interval, but a full-length one-handed save from Jacob Widell Zetterström to deny Keito Nakamura kept the scores level.
Shortly after the break, Ao Tanaka got himself into position to fire in a drive that was, unfortunately for Japan, always rising, but the Samurai Blue were in the ascendancy. The pressure paid off in the 56th minute too, when Ritsu Dōan’s brilliantly incisive pass found Daizen Maeda to slot home the opener and score his first international goal since September 2024.
Japan’s lead was short-lived, however, as out of absolutely nothing, Anthony Elanga restored parity. The Newcastle winger cut in from the right and bent home a curling left-footed effort from the edge of the area to score for a second successive game and set up an intriguing finale.
Suzuki’s alertness saw him divert Alexander Isak’s goalbound effort wide, and with 20 minutes left, the game was finely poised, even if the contest’s fluency was affected by the second-half hydration break.
The Swedes’ desperation for a second often left them a bit lighter at the back, and inside the final 10 minutes, Japan’s Koki Ogawa really should’ve done better when found completely unmarked by a cross from the right.
Elanga and Isak were both denied a late winner by Suzuki late on, but Sweden progressed beyond the group stage for a fifth successive WC appearance regardless. They’ll have to wait before discovering their opponents in Round of 32, while Japan will meet five-time winners Brazil.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Daizen Maeda (Japan)
