EKATERINBURG: Keisuke Honda came off the bench to score an equaliser for Japan as they earned a valuable point in a 2-2 draw with Senegal which kept both countries alive in World Cup Group H in Ekaterinburg.

Honda thus became the first Japanese player to score a goal in three different finals tournaments.

Both had won won their opening fixtures so either could have virtually secured a second-round place with victory but that was not to be after an entertaining game in which control constantly switched sides.

Senegal went ahead in the 11^th minute after Hawaguchi’s poor headed clearance gave Sabaly a chance to shoot. Goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima only parried the ball and it ricocheted off Mane’s knees and into the net – the Liverpool winger’s 15^th goal for his country.

They could have gone two goals ahead but Sarr had a volley well saved by Kawaguchu, diving to his left.

Japan capitalised by equalising in the 33^rd minute with a perfectly-judged angled shot from the left by Takashi Inui after good work by Yuto Nagatomo.

Yuya Osako hit the bar and after the interval Inui wasted a similar opportunity to his goal.

Now it was Japan’s turn to pay the penalty after Senegal’s brilliant young rightback Moussa Wague scored following a move between Mane and Sabaly.

He was the second teenager to score at these finals after France’s Kylian Mbappe.

Japan hit back seven minutes later through substitute Honda to keep their hopes alive. It was his 37th goal for Japan, lifting on terms with Hiromi Hara as the fourth highest all-time marksman.

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