The tough Japanese defenders did not give Isak and fellow attackers Viktor Gyökeres and Anthony Elanga many opportunities.
Once it happened, Isak was extremely close to scoring what - in hindsight - would have been a winning goal in Dallas.
"At the first opportunity I got into my favorite position. I felt like I was going to curl it in, but I couldn't get it out enough," he says.
Zion Suzuki had time to reach out and push the ball away.
"At the second one, I sliced the ball and didn't see much."
The header went past Suzuki into the crossbar.
"It was very close, a bit unlucky," says Isak, who had mixed feelings afterwards.
He was slightly disappointed that the chances did not pay off and that three points meant second place, but at the same time happy and relieved that the World Cup continues with advancement as third in the group.
"We should be happy that we have moved on, but also focus on what is to come," he says.
Who do you want in the Round of 16?
"France is the favorite to win the World Cup. It would be great to get such a challenge. If you get that challenge, you should take it. Norway, you understand that, but we'll see who it will be," he says.
