Japan pull off greatest offside trap in history against Senegal That's how it's done Playing the offside trap can be a tricky business. You can be out of sync and leave one man hanging behind, or you can go too late leaving the entire opposition onside and free to tap the ball in. Advertisement When done right though, the offside trap is one of the purest things in football, and can ruin an attack in one fell swoop. An example of such an offside trap came on Sunday during Japan's 2-2 draw with Senegal, where the Samurai Blue sprinted in perfect unison away from the goal they were defending. As a precaution, two Japan defenders ran the other way, just in case the assistant referee decided not to give it or they somehow managed to balls it up. Japan's left-back, Yuto Nagatomo, collected the ball in the box, but the referee flagged for offside anyway. It's a risky tactic, but when it works well, it's foolproof. Don't be surprised to see some other teams copy Japan's genius innovation throughout the rest of this tournament. Advertisement<doc-sep>Japan pulled off the greatest offside trap in history against Senegal That's how it's done. Playing the offside trap can be a tricky business. You can be out of sync and leave one man hanging behind, or you can go too late leaving the entire opposition onside and free to tap the ball in. When done right though, the offside trap is one of the purest things in football and can ruin an attack in one fell swoop. An example of such an offside trap came on Sunday during Japan's 2-2 draw with Senegal. The Samurai Blue sprinted in perfect unison away from the goal they were defending. As a precaution, two Japan defenders ran the other way, just in case the assistant referee decided not to give it or they somehow managed to balls it up. Advertisement Japan's left-back, Yuto Nagatomo, collected the ball in the box, but the referee flagged for offside anyway. It's a risky tactic, but when it works well, it's foolproof. Don't be surprised to see some other teams copy Japan's genius innovation throughout the rest of this tournament.<doc-sep>There are few things more satisfying to a manager than a well-executed offside trap. If Japan boss Akira Nishino enjoys a perfect set piece then he must have been proud as punch on Sunday afternoon, when his side produced a genius offside trap against Senegal. In the first half of their Group H clash, Senegal's set piece taker tried to whip it into the box, but the entire Japan team moved in the same direction to leave 6 of the opposition in an offside position. You don't see this happen very often, but when you do. Wow is it satisfying. Advert 10 It was certainly one of the more exciting games of the tournament. Liverpool winger Sadio Mane opened the scoring in the 11th minute, but it didn't take long for Japan to equalise. Takashi Inui bagged just after the half hour mark to send fans into meltdown, especially when you realise what his name looks like upside down. Advert 10 Senegal went 2-1 up in the 71st minute thanks to a goal from Moussa Wague, but top scorer Keisuke Honda managed to equalise once more. It was an incredible game of football, but the genius offside trap from Japan grabbed the headlines on social media. That offside trap Japan ran just before the half was the best I've ever seen. No fewer than seven Senegalese players were offside. Masterful team move. #JPNSEN #WorldCup2018 - Sam Lopresti (@SamLCalcio) June 24, 2018 Japan's offside trap is quite good. Talk about discipline, teamwork and synchronisation. #JPNSEN #WorldCup - Syatir (@mdsyatir) June 24, 2018 Advert 10 Isn't that the best offside trap ever?? Congrats Japan y'all just set the bar in offside traps. @stighefootball #worldcup - 3wuor (@3wuor) June 24, 2018 Japan has the best offside trap blueprint. They had a half dozen Senegal players at one go. Basala bebakaza!! #JPNSEN #WorldCup - Themba Kaula (@ThembaKaula) June 24, 2018 Oh my god, Japan's set-piece offside trap is on another level man - Fadhlan Hafizh P (@fadhlanhap) June 24, 2018 Bro watching Japan play is insane, that offside trap was so well organized and calculated - Carlito :flag_er::flag_pr: (@CarlsCort) June 24, 2018 Advert 10 We definitely need to see more of these offside traps. They are ridiculously satisfying to watch.<doc-sep>Japan and Senegal have been awarded one point each (AP Photo) Japan were at their innovative best when they executed a perfect plan to offside Senegal players during their thrilling 2-2 draw in a Group H match at the FIFA World Cup 2018 in Ekaterinburg on Sunday. The innovative move took place in the 45th minute when Sengal were awarded a free-kick in Japan's half with the scores tied a 1-1 at that stage. Japanese players ran towards the opposite direction to put six Senegal players on offside. Their tactic has been applauded by football pundits and has been termed the "best offside trap" on social media. Last Tuesday, Japan became the first Asian nation to beat a South American team when they shocked Colombia 2-1 in their World Cup campaign opener in Saransk. FIFA WORLD CUP 2018 FULL COVERAGE Sengal had started as favourites against Japan but the Asian side came back twice in the match to hold the Africans to a 2-all draw. FIXTURES | POINTS TABLE Midfielder Keisuke Honda came off the bench to salvage a draw for Japan as both teams were locked at the top of Group H following an entertaining encounter at the Ekaterinburg Arena. this is the best offside trap in history. #JPNSEN pic.twitter.com/HxVGHkpQLP 24 June 2018 Veteran Honda, 32, who became the first Japanese player to score in three different World Cups, replaced Shinji Kagawa in the second half with his team down 2-1 and fired the equaliser in 12 minutes from time after an error by Senegal goalkeeper Khadim N'Diaye. Senegal's Sadio Mane disappointed with draw vs Japan Senegal thought they had claimed all three points as Moussa Wague drilled the ball into the top of the net in the 71st minute to make it 2-1, after Sadio Mane's fortuitous first-half opener was cancelled out by Takashi Inui's curling shot. But Honda ensured things ended level and deservedly so. Invented by the Dutch (Cruyff, Ajax) in the 70's perfected by the Spanish (Guardiola, Barça) in the 2010's, well executed by the Japanese today. Nice move #JPNSEN David BATHIELY (@Davidino71) 24 June 2018 The result leaves both teams, who beat Colombia and Poland respectively in their opening matches, on four points from two games and within reach of a spot in the last 16. "They were avoidable goals, that's clear," Senegal coach Aliou Cisse said in a blunt assessment of his defence. "The best team was Japan, we have to admit that." Japan fight back to hold Senegal to 2-2 draw "We didn't play a great game but we didn't lose... I have confidence. Our team has the quality to face Colombia," he added, looking forward to Thursday's meeting with the South Americans in Samara. Japan play Poland in Volgograd. "We're a bit disappointed... there was a way to win this match," added Mane, who failed to exert his influence despite scoring. "We started well, we created a lot of opportunities, we were quite dangerous... we now have a decisive match to qualify next week." I was alive when #Japan pulled the best executed offside trap in history against #Senegal #JPNSEN pic.twitter.com/DDV9wLBxEx diemanschaft (@Reindopree) 24 June 2018 ROBUST DEFENDING Senegal's back line might have faltered towards the end but they began strongly and their robust defending neutralised any early threat that the Japanese front line posed, allowing their own attackers to push up in numbers. The Africans went ahead in the 11th minute, although there was an element of luck to their opener. A poor headed clearance landed right at Youssouf Sabaly's feet and although goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima managed to parry the defender's stinging shot from the left, the ball rebounded into the net off Mane's knee. Japan regained composure and responded with a well-taken goal with their only shot on target in the opening period to level the score at 1-1. Yuto Nagatomo controlled a long pass with a deft first touch before rolling the ball into the path of Inui, who cut in from the left and fired a curling shot past a diving N'Diaye. Senegal appeared to step off the gas towards the end of the half, and the effects were still evident after the restart, as they resorted to long-range efforts that failed to test the Japanese goalkeeper. They nearly paid for allowing their opponents to run at them, as Yuya Osako narrowly failed to connect with a pass across the box on the hour mark before Inui's powerful shot struck the bar with the goalkeeper beaten. Wague appeared to have ended hopes of a Japanese comeback as he drilled Sabaly's low cross into the goal to send Senegal's supporters into raptures. But the Asians were not done yet and hit back again through midfielder Honda, who collected Inui's pass and prodded into an empty net after goalkeeper N'Diaye stepped off his line and failed to punch the ball away. "It was a tough match, we knew it would be," Japan coach Akira Nishino said. "I evaluate it as a very good point. Senegal is a tough team and this result I hope will lead to success in the next match." (With inputs from Reuters)<doc-sep>
Up against Senegal in their Group H clash, the Japanese pulled off one of the best offside traps we've ever seen We’re sure England fans were keeping an extra eye on Japan’s clash with Senegal this afternoon. The Three Lions secured passage to the next round with their brilliant 6-1 win over Panama earlier today, which means they’ll definitely play against someone from Group H in the last 16; be it Japan, Senegal, Poland or Colombia. EPA 5 Yes lads! And while nothing’s certain, there’s a strong chance it could be either Japan or Senegal following their 2-2 draw today, which means both teams are in control of their own fate. Simply put, if they each win their last game of the group, then they’re through to the last 16. Goals from Liverpool’s Sadio Mane and a late strike from Keisuke Honda were the highlights of the game, but one moment towards the end of the first-half has got everyone talking. It’s not everyday you hear fans raving about an offside trap. After all, it’s more something you’d expect a coach to appreciate. But plenty of us were loving Japan’s wonderful movement when defending a Senegal set-piece on the 44th minute, which saw the Japanese back-line move in unison to leave five Senegalese attackers in an offside position as the ball was whipped into the box. 5 Everyone’s ready for the free-kick 5 As the free-kick taker makes his run-up, you can see Japan’s defensive line is preparing to run back 5 Timed excellently, Senegal are suddenly caught with six players in an offside position 5 Lovely stuff The quick movement and understanding between the players was poetry in motion. Honestly, we can’t remember an offside trap executed with such precision – and it’ll no doubt go down as one of the most pleasing things we’ll see at this World Cup.