History as Japan makes Colombia pay the penalty
Print Edition
Yuya Osako had a surprise in store for those who thought Shinji Okazaki鈥檚 lack of fitness left Japan with little hope of competing with Colombia at the World Cup.
Osako鈥檚 gritty determination to set up one goal and his 73rd-minute header from Keisuke Honda鈥檚 corner kick lifted Japan to a surprising 2-1 victory over the Colombians yesterday.
Osako won a bouncing ball to begin an early sequence that led to a penalty, put Colombia a man down and gave Japan a 1-0 lead when Shinji Kagawa converted from the spot.
Colombia had to play all but the opening minutes with 10 men after Carlos Sanchez received a red card for blocking Kagawa鈥檚 shot on goal with his right arm. It equalized late in the first half on Juan Quintero鈥檚 rolling but accurate free kick, which sneaked inside the right post.
Japan became the latest side to pull off an upset at the World Cup, joining Mexico, Switzerland and Iceland in earning surprising results. This scoreline was particularly unexpected in light of the fact that Japan had changed coaches shortly before the tournament, and because no Asian team had ever previously defeated a South American side in 17 World Cup meetings.
Not only did Osako have a hand in both goals, he sprawled to block a close-range shot by Colombia midfielder James Rodriguez in the waning minutes.
Not a bad way to provide joy to a country recovering from a deadly earthquake in Osaka a day earlier. The result also brought a smile to Japanese princess Takamdo, who attended the match in Saransk, Russia.
Colombia soundly defeated Japan 4-1 when the sides met in group play in Brazil four years ago, and the Japanese also began the game without Okazaki, a Leicester City forward who has been trying to overcome a sore calf and was replaced in the starting lineup by Osako. Okazaki did get in the game, but not until the 85th minute.
But it was apparent within minutes that the rematch would not go so smoothly for Colombia, much to the chagrin of entire sections of the Mordovia Arena bathed in yellow.
In the third minute, Osako won a bouncing ball from defender Davinson Sanchez and broke in alone toward goal. Goalkeeper David Ospina blocked Osako鈥檚 shot, but Kagawa pounced on the rebound and quickly got off a shot on goal that drew Sanchez鈥檚 red card and the penalty. Kagawa converted by directing his shot inside the right post.
Colombia began the game without Rodriguez, a Bayern Munich midfielder who was the leading scorer at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. But he came on as a substitute in the 59th.
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