DAIZEN MAEDA shot Japan into the knock-out stages of the World Cup with an excellent strike in the 1-1 Group F draw with Sweden in Dallas.
Now the Celtic hitman will get the opportunity to succeed where Scotland failed when he lines up against Brazil in the next phase encounter on Monday.
Benjamin Nygren and his Swedish team-mates are also into the next stage following the stalemate.
BACK IN THE GOAL ROUTINE…Daizen Maeda celebrates his strike against Sweden.
The point sends Maeda and Co through in second place behind the Netherlands with Sweden top of the third-place teams, dealing another blow to Scotland’s hopes of reaching the last 32.
The jet-heeled Hoops star claimed the opening goal 10 minutes after the break with a typical strike as he raced onto a pass from Ritsu Doan before firing low past the stranded Jacob Widell Zetterstrom.
However, the lead lasted just six minutes before Newcastle’s Anthony Elanga cut in from the right before sending a curling a low effort past Zion Suzuki and inside the far post.
THAT’S MY BHOY…Benjamin Nygren congratulates Daizen Maeda after the 1-1 draw between their nations Japan and Sweden in Dallas.
The keeper produced a couple of timely stops to make sure there was no additional scoring.
Suzuki said afterwards: “I think we achieved what was important – conceding the minimum, not losing, and securing at least a point.
“Being able to carry this unbeaten momentum into the Brazil match next is definitely positive.”
At the conclusion of a tense confrontation in Dallas, Nygren made a beeline to congratulate Hoops team-mate Maeda after another superb display.
