Elanga Stunner Earns Sweden Point Against Japan as Both Teams Reach Round of 32

Anthony Elanga's powerful second-half strike earned Sweden a 1-1 draw with Japan on Friday morning, sending both sides through to the World Cup round of 32. 

Sweden sit third in Group F on four points, enough to advance as one of the best third-placed teams, while Japan finish second behind the Netherlands and will face Brazil in Houston on Monday. Sweden's last-32 opponents are not yet confirmed but are likely to be France.

The game was quiet for most of the first half, with both teams seemingly happy to take a point and lacking the energy to push for more. Japan broke the deadlock in the 56th minute through a well-worked move, with Ayase Ueda and Ritsu Doan combining before Doan teed up Celtic's Daizen Maeda to finish calmly inside the box.

Elanga responded within six minutes. Making his first start of the tournament, the Newcastle United winger stepped inside from the left and fired a powerful strike from the angle of the box past goalkeeper Zion Suzuki, who appeared to see the ball late. It was his second goal of the tournament and came at a moment when defeat would have left Sweden sweating on their progression.

Sweden had chances to win it late on. Elanga forced Suzuki into a diving save in injury time, and from the resulting corner the goalkeeper had to leap and claim the ball under pressure after deflecting Alexander Isak's header into the air.

The draw is a significant achievement for Sweden and coach Graham Potter, who had to lift his side after they were thrashed 5-1 by the Netherlands in their second group game. They reached this tournament through the play-offs having finished bottom of their qualifying group, making the point against an impressive Japan side all the more creditable.

Japan finish the group stage having scored seven goals, their highest ever tally at a single World Cup, surpassing the six they managed in Russia in 2018. They are advancing from the group stage for the third consecutive World Cup and fifth time overall since 2002. 

Sweden have now reached the knockout round in each of the last four World Cups they have qualified for, going back to 1994 when they reached the semi-finals the last time the United States hosted the tournament.