Japan and Sweden played out a hard fought 1-1 draw with each other, as both sides managed to secure their place in the World Cup knockout stages
The early exchanges of the game saw both teams have their fair share of possession, with the initial indications suggesting that both teams would be happy enough with a draw in this game.
In terms of chances, the best opportunity for either side in the first half came with just seconds of normal time remaining, as a curling effort from Keito Nakamura was well saved by Sweden goalkeeper Jacob Zetterstrom.
Three minutes into the five added on mins, Viktor Gyokeres found himself in a bit of space, but his effort from the edge of the box was well blocked, and Japan were eventually able to deal with the corner. The two sides headed into the half time interval at 0-0.
At the beginning of the second half, it was Sweden on top in terms of territory and forcing set pieces, but they were struggling to create anything of note, which was a story of the game in all truth.
Ten minutes into the second half, we finally had the goal that the game so, so badly needed, as Japan took the lead. Lovely link up between Ayase Ueda and Ritsu Doan lead to the latter playing a lovely through ball to Celtic striker Daizen Maeda, who kept his composure when through on goal to finish past Zetterstrom.
Daizen Maeda fires Japan in front // REUTERSHowever, just six minutes later, Sweden would equalise. Newcastle United forward Anthony Elanga cut inside from the right and curled a lovely effort into the far corner, for his second goal of the tournament. Listen, fair play.
Three minutes later, Graham Potter's side would close to turning the game around completely after Japan were caught out in their own third, but Alexander Isak's effort was saved well by the goalkeeper.
With a little under ten minutes of the game remaining, substitute Koki Ogawa had a golden chance to give Japan the lead for a second time, but Daichi Kamada's cross had him stretching slightly more than he would have wanted to, and he could only steer the ball over the bar.
In the fourth minute of stoppage time, Isak flicked a corner at the near post, just to be denied by an absolutely superb save. That would be that, and it finished 1-1.
Japan will face Brazil - whom they have beaten in the last year - on Monday in Houston at 18:00 BST. Meanwhile, Sweden's opponents are still TBC.
