Spoiler alert: they did! #COLJPN pic.twitter.com/z1nmWMWcsa
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) June 19, 2018
Japan rode goals from Shinji Kagawa and Yuya Osako to beat ten-man Colombia 2-1 in a Group H FIFA World Cup game at Mordovia, Russia, on Tuesday.
The game was just 3 minutes old when Colombia’s Carlos Sanchez handled in the area. The ref reached for a red card and pointed to the spot. Shinji Kagawa stepped up and slotted it home.
But the lead only lasted 33 minutes. Japan’s Makoto Hasebe conceded a free kick and Juan Quintero found an angle to level the score.
In the second half, Japan sent on Keisuke Honda. It was Honda who made the difference. He sent in a corner and Yuya Osako headed it home to put Japan 2-1 up.
The result puts Japan well on course to make the knockout stages.
They take on Senegal on Sunday then Poland next Thursday. Yuya Osako said, “My dream came true. I’m so happy!”
Borussia Dortmund attacking midfielder Kagawa scored from the spot as early as in the sixth minute after Colombia’s Carlos Sanchez handled the ball inside the area and was given the marching orders by referee Damir Skomina.
Colombia equalised through Juan Quintero, who curled in a free kick into the bottom right corner in the 39th minute.
In the second half, Colombia struggled with a man down as their Asian counterparts restored their lead after Keisuke Honda’s corner saw Osako nod in from close.