TUE, June 19 2018-theG&BJournal-Japan beat 10-man Colombia 2-1 in their opening Group H match on today, the first time an Asian team has overcome a South American one at the World Cup in 18 attempts.
Colombia changed their game plan for the game after one of their key midfield players, Carlos Sanchez was sent off in the third minute of the game for deliberate handball.
Shinji Kagawa scored the resulting penalty to put Japan 1-0 up in the sixth minute, but Juan Quintero equalized with a low free kick which squeezed over the line shortly before halftime.
After the break, Japan pressed a tired Colombia side and Yuya Osako grabbed the winner with a glancing header in the 73rd minute.
Colombia attacking midfielder James Rodriguez, who was left out of the starting line-up due to muscle pain, replaced Quintero in the 59th minute but failed to change the course of the match.
