Junya Ito scored the one objective of the sport with lower than 10 minutes remaining as Japan ran out 1-0 winners over Scotland at Hampden Park.
Ito netted with a neat end on 84 minutes after the guests – who’re ranked among the many high 20 groups on the earth – went shut on a number of events.
The hosts began each halves brightly however they had been in the end undone by a Japanese facet who largely dominated all through to increase their spectacular run of outcomes to only one defeat in 11.
For Steve Clarke’s males, it was a helpful level of reference forward of the World Cup finals this summer time, the place Scotland will probably be hoping to progress out the group for the very first time.
How the motion unfolded
A usually raucous Hampden Park was handled to an early likelihood when a clipped cross from John McGinn discovered the oncoming Scott McTominay, who struck a agency, first-time effort straight at Zion Suzuki.
The Japan stopper produced a tremendous response save to show the ball towards the right-hand submit earlier than the ball was cleared.
Scotland, nonetheless very a lot driving the crest of the World Cup wave following a memorable 4-2 over Denmark last year, had been trying to construct some momentum going into their first World Cup since 1998.
Since that event – Japan’s debut – the Asian nation have been an ever-present on the finals and, following McTominay’s effort, the guests’ high quality started to point out.
From there, Hajime Moriyasu’s facet dominated possession, but it surely wasn’t till the thirty eighth minute that they carved out their first actual likelihood when Ao Tanaka clipped the highest of the bar from contained in the field.
One other promising transfer noticed Yuito Suzuki hearth into the arms of Angus Gunn, moments after Kaishu Sano had lashed a snap-volley excessive over the objective.
Scotland joyful to listen to half-time whistle
The hosts could have been happy to listen to the half-time whistle, however Clarke’s males confirmed extra promise after the break.
McTominay once more examined Suzuki earlier than captain Andy Robertson stung the palms of the guests’ keeper following a purposeful run into the field.
Japan then turned to their bench and substitute Ito practically had an instantaneous affect when he bamboozled the Scottish defence earlier than getting a shot away, however Gunn was equal to his effort.
Brighton’s Kaoru Mitoma – one other substitution – then went shut, bursting into the field and clipping the ball over the Scotland goalkeeper. This time, Kenny McLean was readily available to clear.
Two of Scotland’s modifications, Kieran Tierney and George Hirst, mixed nicely earlier than the latter created a yard of house for himself within the field, however the Ipswich City man might solely drag his low strike the unsuitable facet of the close to submit.
Moments later, Japan broke the impasse by means of Ito, the Genk ahead latching onto the unfastened ball earlier than taking a contact and rolling an effort past Gunn into the nook of the online to assert victory.
