Sweden, Japan Draw 1‑1 in World Cup Group Stage
ARLINGTON, Texas (Interstat) — Anthony Elanga and Daizen Maeda scored second-half goals Thursday as Sweden and Japan played to a 1-1 draw in a World Cup group match at AT&T Stadium.
Maeda put Japan ahead in the 56th minute with a right-footed finish. Sweden equalized six minutes later when Elanga struck from the left side. Shōgo Taniguchi provided the assist on Maeda’s goal, while Isak Hien set up Elanga’s tally. Viktor Gyökeres also recorded an assist.
Both teams remain winless in the tournament with a record of no wins, no losses and one draw. Japan’s Daizen Maeda, a forward, scored his first goal of the competition. Anthony Elanga, a substitute, also found the net.
Three yellow cards were issued. Sweden’s Isak Hien was booked in the 32nd minute, Japan’s Shōgo Taniguchi received a caution in the 77th, and Sweden’s Viktor Gyökeres was shown yellow in the 85th.
The match drew fans from both nations to the Dallas-Fort Worth area venue. Japan will look for its first win in the next group fixture, while Sweden aims to bounce back from the draw.