Colombia 1-2 Japan: Yuya Osako's header wins eventful Group H clash

Football

Tue June 19, 2018 · 7y ago

Japan made a winning start to their 2018 World Cup campaign as Yuya Osako's second-half header gave them a 2-1 victory over Colombia.

The Samurai Blue, who were 9/4 outsiders with Sky Bet to qualify for the knockout stages, led twice as 10-man Colombia put up a fight in the Group H opener.

A 2-1 victory for the Samurai Blue could be backed at a price boosted 22/1 pre-match with the online bookmaker, who now make them 2/1 to win the group and 4/7 to qualify. Colombia, who were favourites to top the group, are now 11/2 and 6/4 respectively.

The South Americans had former Aston Villa midfielder Carlos Sanchez sent off after a deliberate handball in the box with just three minutes on the clock - the first red card of the tournament.

Borussia Dortmund playmaker Shinji Kagawa stepped up to successfully convert the resulting penalty, before Colombia were back on level terms on 39 minutes as Juan Quintero's free-kick was fumbled over the line by Eiji Kawashima - with goal-line technology confirming the goal.

Yuya Osako sealed another famous World Cup win for Japan on 73 minutes, heading home Keisuke Honda's corner.

James Rodriguez - who finished the 2014 tournament as top scorer - was left out of Colombia's starting XI due to a muscle injury and he nearly made an impact late in the game, wasting a chance 10 minutes from time when his shot from 12 yards was deflected over the bar.

Juan Quintero celebrates

Opta stats

Japan have become the first ever Asian side to defeat South American opposition at the World Cup (P18 W1 D3 L14).
This is the first World Cup tournament in which as many as four South American teams have failed to win their opening game since 1974.
Keisuke Honda is the first player from an Asian nation to provide an assist in three different World Cup tournaments since 1966.
There have been more direct free-kick goals scored in just 15 games at World Cup 2018 (4) than there were in the entire 2014 edition (3), with Colombia’s Juan Quintero netting the fourth of this year’s tournament.
Colombia’s Carlos Sanchez was red carded after two minutes and 56 seconds - the second fastest shown in World Cup history, after Jose Alberto Batista for Uruguay vs Scotland in 1986 (54 seconds).