Beat Colombia, Japan Print History

Japan won 2-1 victory over Colombia in the World Cup Group H preliminary match at the Mordovia Arena on Tuesday (19/06/2018).

As a result, the team nicknamed this Blue Samurai carved history. Japan became the first team from Asia to beat South American teams in the World Cup finals.

This game is colored red card for the Colombian midfielder, Carlos Sanchez. He had to end the game more quickly because it was expelled in the 3rd minute.

Sanchez with a penalty holding Shinji Kagawa's kick aimed at an unattended goal as goalkeeper David Ospina was in a position that was not ideal.

Kagawa who became executor brought Japan ahead in the 6th minute. Colombia had equalized with a free kick Juan Quintero in the 38th minute, before Yuya Osako ensure Japan win in the 72nd minute.

With this result, Japan temporarily lead Group H standings with three points and Colombia is in the position of caretaker.

Since the kick-off whistle sounded, both teams immediately played with a fairly fast tempo. Just three minutes running action, Colombia must play with 10 men after Sanchez get a red card and the referee gave a penalty.

Kagawa who became the executioner completed his job to make Japan winning 1-0 in the 6th minute.

The match was more interesting when Colombia equalized in the 38th minute. Quintero created a splendid goal through a horizontal free kick that overpassed the Japanese players' fence, which just jumped.

1-1 score lasted until halftime.

In the second half, the game went with a rather slow tempo. Top scorer of the 2014 World Cup, James Rodriguez, entered in the 59th minute to replace Quintero.

The inclusion of Bayern Munich players makes the Colombian attack better. However, they failed to score.

Japan made the second goal in the 72nd minute through Yuya Osako. From a corner kick scheme, Keisuke Honda bait can be maximized Osako with a header to produce a goal that makes the score to 2-1.

In the rest of the fight, the Japanese slow down the tempo of the game to keep the advantage. Meanwhile, Colombia's attack has always been broken off by the Japanese defense so the score does not change.

In this group, in addition to Japan and Colombia, there are Poland and Senegal, who are just going to play. The top two teams in this group will qualify for the last 16.