Despite providing a goal and an assist in Japan's 2-2 World Cup draw with Senegal on Sunday, attacking midfielder Takashi Inui expressed disappointment at being unable to secure three points against the joint Group H leaders.

The 30-year-old, who recently joined Spanish club Real Betis from Eibar, leveled the scores at 1-1 in the 34th minute with a curling strike from inside the box.

He then assisted for Japan's 78th-minute equalizer, beating his man down the left before crossing into the box to set up substitute Keisuke Honda.

The match continued a strong run of form for Inui, who has scored three goals in his last three internationals after netting a brace in Japan's final World Cup warmup, a 4-2 win over Paraguay.

Speaking after the draw with Senegal at Ekaterinburg Arena, Inui said the game was one which the Samurai Blue could and should have won, having created several scoring opportunities, including a shot off his own boot that rattled the crossbar in the second half.

"It was a game we could have won and I think there would have been a different outcome if I had scored a second (with the chance that hit the bar)," Inui said.

"That caused trouble for the team and their second goal was down to my marking. I have to be a bit more focused (in those situations)."

"But I am scoring in recent matches the way I did today and I wanted to get a shot in somewhere from that kind of position. I really just let fly with the shot and am glad that I got a result out of it."

The former Yokohama F Marinos and Cerezo Osaka player, who has also had spells in Germany with Bochum and Eintracht Frankfurt, said he was glad to make a strong contribution against Senegal after failing to live up to his own expectations in Japan's 2-1 opening win over Colombia.

"I am gutted that I couldn't really do much against Colombia. I wanted to repay the coach's faith in me and be a bit more use to the team," he said.

Prior to the match, Japan manager Akira Nishino had joked about the diminutive playmaker's lack of size against bigger opponents, saying he needed Inui to "to put on five kilograms and grow five centimeters."

Despite being one of the smallest players on the field, Inui put in a big performance against Senegal that on another day might have garnered a man of the match award.

In setting up the goal which clinched a share of the spoils for Japan, Inui said he had simply played the ball into an advantageous area without targeting Honda.

"I wasn't specifically looking to pick Keisuke out but saw the keeper was out of position and sent in a simple, direct ball in the hope that someone would put it away. I am happy Keisuke was there to do that."

With Japan's fate in the tournament resting on their final Group H clash against Poland, Inui said the Samurai Blue will need to throw everything at the European side, who many tipped to win the group.

"Poland are going to be a difficult team to beat. Hopefully we can pull together and make a killer effort," he said.