Japan secured a late 1-0 victory over Iceland in Tokyo on Sunday, finishing their home-based preparations for the World Cup with a narrow but important win. Koki Ogawa scored the only goal in the 87th minute with a header, giving Hajime Moriyasu’s side a barely deserved success after a match in which they struggled to break down a disciplined Iceland defense.
The game had the feel of a farewell for veteran defender Maya Yoshida, who was handed a final appearance for the Samurai Blue nearly four years after his previous outing for Japan. Yoshida, 37, left the field in the 13th minute to a guard of honour and passed the captain’s armband to Wataru Endo, the Liverpool midfielder who returned to the starting lineup after a spell on the sidelines during an injury-hit season.
Yoshida had started in a back line that also included Takehiro Tomiyasu, who featured for Japan for the first time in almost two years as he continues rebuilding fitness ahead of the World Cup opener against the Netherlands on June 14.
Japan created the first chance when Keito Nakamura’s low effort from the left flashed across the face of goal. Iceland responded with several dangerous moments, including a curling long-range shot from Logi Tomasson in the 30th minute that missed the far post. Hakon Valdimarsson then denied Takefusa Kubo from distance and tipped Nakamura’s header over the bar as Japan gradually increased pressure.
At the other end, goalkeeper Zion Suzuki made a strong save to stop Dagur Dan Thorhallsson late in the first half, while Valdimarsson kept out Tomiyasu’s strike in stoppage time. After the break, Japan continued to search for a breakthrough, with Ko Itakura denied and Ogawa sending a 62nd-minute attempt wide as the hosts labored to find a way past Iceland’s organized defense.
The decisive moment finally came with three minutes left, when Yukinari Sugawara delivered a cross from the right and Ogawa rose to head the ball beyond Valdimarsson and in off the inside of the post. The goal ended a frustrating evening for Japan and capped a match that Moriyasu used to make 11 substitutions and assess his squad.
Japan will appear at their eighth consecutive World Cup and are set to face the Netherlands, Tunisia and Sweden in the group stage.
