The Japanese national team successfully started their trip at the 2018 World Cup with a win. Facing a strong team from South America Colombia, Samurai Biru managed to win with a thin score of 2-1.
Juan Quintero equalized from Japan after Shinji Kagawa successfully execute a penalty, but Yuya Osako's header in the second half successfully bury Los Cofeteros' perfect start dream.
This first round game can be said to run with exclamation. Just two minutes running game, Colombia had to play with 10 players after Carlos Sanchez was charged with holding off a golden opportunity Shinji Kagawa with his hand.
In addition to the red card, Colombia was also sentenced to a penalty by the referee. Kagawa who advanced as executor perform its duties well so that Japan winning 1-0 over Colombia.
Despite playing with 10 players, Colombia did not lose the tempo of their attack. Relying on their two wings, Colombia continue to pound the Japanese defense as if they were playing with 11 players.
Feeling his team was in deadlock, coach Jose Peckerman made the decision to make a substitution. He pulled out Juan Cuadrado to be replaced with Wilmar Barrios.
Colombian tireless efforts to equalize finally paid off in minute 39. Starting from a free-kick scheme, Juan Quintero fired a horizontal shot anticipated by Japanese goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima.
Kawashima himself had denied the ball had entered into the goal, but based on goal line tehcnology, the ball has crossed the goal line so the score back 1-1 draw.
After the draw, Colombia is getting more and more excited. But until the referee blew the whistle marks the end of the first half, the score remained 1-1.
Second round
Entering the second half, Japan began to appear pressing. Unlike in the first half, Samurai Blue began to actively attack and locked Colombia in their defense area.
The Japanese effort could produce a golden opportunity in the 54th minute when Osako fired a shot from a narrow angle so that Ospina must do a thorough rescue. Three minutes later it was Takashi Inui's turn to test Ospina's toughness through his curling kick but the ball was denied by the Arsenal keeper.
Feeling depressed, Peckerman again made the switch. He pulled out Juan Quintero and Jose Izquierdo to be replaced with James Rodriguez who previously rumored less fit because of minor injuries in the knee and also Carlos Bacca. While coach Akira Nishino also adds power gedornya in which he put Keisuke Honda to replace Shinji Kagawa.
Despite including Rodriguez and Bacca, Colombia still struggled to get out of the pressure. Japan valiantly continues to bombard Colombia's defense area.
The onslaught after the onslaught of Japan was finally sweet fruit in minute 75. Through a corner kick scheme, the ball successfully gored perfectly by Yuya Osako goalkeeper David Ospina so that Japan back 2-1 lead over Colombia.
Behind 1 goal, Colombia tries to rise. But the Japanese players who appear confident hard to penetrate so they only rely on counterattacks.
In the rest of this second half, Japan again made two changes. They pull out Gaku Shibasaki and Yuya Osako to be replaced with Hotaru Yamaguchi and Shinji Okazaki.
Colombia are still trying to equalize, but until the referee blew the whistle marking the end of the game the score remained 2-1 for Japan's lead.
