Half-time report: Inui strike reprieves Kawashima error

Takashi Inui levelled the scores for Japan after Sadio Mane had put Senegal in front in the Group H match.

Takashi Inui celebrates pulling Japan level with his goal.

After Sadio Mane had punished Japan for an earlier error, the Blue Samurais came roaring back with a goal in the form of Takashi Inui to level the scores at half-time at the Ekaterinburg Arena on Sunday.

Mane pounced on an error from Japan's goalkeeper Kawashima Eiji to give Senegal a deserved lead in just the 11th minute.

Kawashima failed to deal with a drilled effort from Youssouf Sabaly from the left and the Liverpool attacker was the quickest to the ball to nod it past the shot stopper.

Sadio Mane nods the ball inside the net against Japan.

 

Despite conceding the early goal, Japan persisted with its possession-based football which ultimately brought it back into the game in the 34th minute.

Right-back Yuto Nagatomo raced behind the defence to collect a diagonal ball before laying it in the path of Inui, who composed himself to curl the ball into the right hand corner of the goal.