Virgil van Dijk's Netherlands side were denied a victory in their World Cup Group F opener against Japan when Koki Ogawa scored two minutes from time

Virgil van Dijk was on target for the Netherlands, but it wasn’t enough to secure his side all three points against Japan. The Dutch were denied a victory in their World Cup Group F opener when Koki Ogawa’s header two minutes from time took a deflection off Daichi Kamada before going in at the AT&T Stadium in Dallas.

However, Van Dijk had headed his side ahead six minutes into the second-half after connecting with Liverpool team-mate Ryan Gravenberch’s cross. But Japan boss Hajime Moriyasu was left furious on the sidelines as he believed VAR should have checked for a foul in the build-up.

Although a VAR check did take place after the goal, it only checked for offside and not a foul. And Moriyasu made his feelings clear to the fourth official on the sidelines.

But his side hit back through Keito Nakamura before Ronald Koeman’s side went ahead again in the 64th minute when Crysencio Summerville scored a fine individual goal.

However, Japan rescued a point when substitute Ogawa rose highest to head Junya Ito’s corner past Bart Verbruggen. Speaking after the game, Van Dijk said: “They didn’t create that much, so that’s why it’s extra disappointing that we conceded through a set-piece.

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“But that’s the reality, we take the point, and now we focus on Sweden. We just have to keep going. Hopefully there are still many more games to come for us. Because we conceded late on, it doesn’t feel as nice, but we move on.”

While Japan boss Moriyasu said: “We managed to get a result through our collective effort. We defended patiently and then tried to be more aggressive going forward. The players executed what we had planned and prepared for.”

And ahead of the game, Moriyasu offered a tearful apology to Wataru Endo for the decision that led to the Liverpool midfielder’s international retirement. Endo has retired from international football after being ruled out of the World Cup because of a foot problem.

The Liverpool star sustained the injury against Sunderland on February 11 in what was his final club appearance of the season. He made his comeback by completing 45 minutes in a 1-0 World Cup warm-up victory over Iceland, but his recovery had not progressed as hoped for, and that has led to missing the World Cup and calling time on his international career.

And Moriyasu said: “Overall, the medical staff and I shared the opinion that it would be difficult for him to play at 100 percent. Based on my own observations of his rehabilitation, I made that judgment.”

Before he added: “Not only did we hurt Endo, but we also caused pain to his family, who cherish him, the supporters, and many others. I feel deeply sorry and would like to apologise.

“However, I have never lost respect for the player. I have always treated players with that respect. In making this decision, I did not forget my respect for the player, as I acted with the team and Japan in mind.”

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