SOUTHAMPTON, England -- Japan was held to a 2-2 draw by African World Cup qualifier Nigeria on Sunday afternoon at Southampton's St. Mary's Stadium.
Playing in heavy rain and a strong wind blowing in off the bay, Japan produced an improved performance after a poor 2-0 loss to Senegal, also a World Cup qualifier, three days ago in Lens, France. Japan manager Philippe Troussier changed the team around from Thursday's Senegal game with the employment of Gamba Osaka defender Tsuneyasu Miyamoto and Feyenoord midfielder Shinji Ono. Bolton forward Akinori Nishizawa teamed up with Antlers striker Atsushi Yanagisawa, and Shimizu midfielder Teruyoshi Ito played a central role in midfield.
Japan went ahead in the 26th minute when Yanagisawa scored with a glancing header from Ito's cross. But the lead only lasted two minutes. Defender Eric Ejiofor's shot, off a corner from Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Augustin Okocha, was deflected by Japan defender Naoki Matsuda into the Japan goal to tie it up at 1-1.