Japan enacted sweet revenge for their defeat to Colombia four years ago with a shock 2-1 win over their South American rivals in a pulsating game that saw Colombia play 87 minutes with ten men.
Japan enacted sweet revenge for their defeat to Colombia four years ago with a shock 2-1 win over their South American rivals in a pulsating game that saw Colombia play 87 minutes with ten men.
Shinji Kagawa buried an early spot kick as ex-Aston Villa man Carlos Sanchez was sent off after just three minutes for a deliberate handball in a nightmare start for Colombia.
Yet it was defender Davinson Sanchez who was the principal villain for Jose Pekerman’s side as the Spurs man endured a horrendous World Cup debut with a series of costly mistakes at the heart of his team’s defence.
With practically his first touch of the game, the 21-year-old centre back was inexplicably caught in possession by Yuya Osaka who seized control of the ball and tested David Ospina.
The Arsenal man palmed the low effort away but from the rebound Carlos Sanchez struck out his hand to block Kagawa’s shot. The ex-Villa flop was rightly sent off and Colombia’s game plan was thrown out of the window.
It was another setback for Colombia boss Jose Pekerman, who had already lost key man James Rodriguez to injury after the 2014 star failed a late fitness test.
Initially Colombia struggled with Japan seizing on the space left due to the numerical advantage they wielded.
Takashi Inui stroked a glorious chance wide minutes later as Kagawa strolled unchallenged to the edge of the box before playing the Real Betis winger through on goal.
Crosses from deep into the box continued to be Colombia’s main danger and Juan Cuadrado almost beat his marker to squeeze home a shot, while World Cup debutant Radamel Falcao also had a couple of half-chances that he poked into the goalkeeper’s arms.
Japan continued to threaten on the break but gradually Colombia grew into the game and they looked much more organised when terrier-like midfielder Wilmar Barrios came on after 31 minutes for right winger Juan Cuadrado, also nursing a pre-match injury.
With more control of the midfield, Colombia sensed Japan were for the taking and it was James’s replacement, the incredibly gifted left-footer Juan Fernando Quintero who stepped up to the mark.
His superb low free-kick escaped goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima’s despairing dive after World Cup debutant Radamel Falcao was bundled over on the edge of the area.
Quintero had scored four years ago for Colombia and was hailed as the next best thing to come out of Colombian footballer.
But his career had largely fallen by the wayside until a loan move back home with Deportivo Independiente Medellin that gave the minutes he desperately craved.
In the second half Colombia had to dig deep and Arsenal goalkeeper David Ospina showed why he’s still Colombia’s indisputable No 1 with a series of top saves from Osako in particular as Japan ramped up the pressure.
On 58 minutes James Rodriguez, side-lined with a calf-muscle injured that’s been troubling him for the last few days, replaced goal-scorer Quintero to ramp up the volume in Saransk’s Mordovia Arena.
Over 25,000 Colombians had made the journey to Russia to support their team battle against the odds.
The 26-year-old’s first meaningful participation was to pick up a yellow card, but the morale he gave his team was obvious and memories were fresh of the star role he played in Colombia’s 2014 campaign.
Japan responded a few minutes later by bringing on their big name, Keisuke Honda for goalscorer Kagawa, while Colombia, perhaps sensing Japan were there for the taking, swapped Brighton inverted left-winger Jose Izquierdo for striker Carlos Bacca.
It was a bold move and Colombia were immediately made to pay as Osako headed home a corner for 2-1.
The game would again swing and turn as Colombia then took the initiative in a exhilarating second half. Substitute James was at his team’s attacks and he almost pulled Colombia level after a clever move involving centre-back Oscar Murillo, but the Bayern man’s shot was deflected over by Osako’s last-gasp challenge.
Colombia continued to scrap, while Japan desperately tried to keep hold of the ball. Leicester striker Shinji Okazaki, himself having been nursing a pre-match injury, came on with seven minutes left to breath fresh life into Japan’s attack.
Chants of ‘Yes, You Can’ rained down on the sun-baked pitch in Saransk from Colombia’s hardy supporters in a bid to desperately force a dramatic late turn in events.
But Japan defended stoutly to hold on for a first victory at the World Cup for eight years and helped erase the bitter memories in Brazil four years ago when a largely reserve Colombia team recorded a crushing 4-1 win in the same fixture.