As expected the game between these two nation’s started with pace and vigour from the off. The Japanese had to go into this came all guns blazing if they had any chance of beating the quality of Colombia. The first chance fell to Schalke 04’s, Atsuto Uchida but his shot took a wicked deflection off a Colombia and out for a corner. Japan instantly took a short corner which went to Makoto Hasebe, put his shot was weak and it went straight into the arms of David Ospina.
The game then took a turn for the worst for the Samurai Blue just when they started to control the game, they conceded a penalty. Yasuyuki Konno swiped the legs of Adrián Ramos, as he made a run at goal. The resulting penalty in the 16th minute was neatly stroked in by the mercurial, Juan Cuadrado. After they went 1-0 down, the Japanese then had a long period with possession, meaning they started to create some chances. The first came from Shinji Kagawa, he cut in from the left-hand side a whizzed a low drive to keeper right but David Ospina pulled off a terrific one-handed save. The Japanese then equalised in the 45th+1 which was the last touch of the half. Kesuke Honda played in a quality cross which was met by Shinji Okazaki, his wonderful glancing header sailed in past David Ospina.
In the second half, Colombia started to show their quality as they went 2-1 in front. James Rodríguez, their start of the tournament provided the goal in the 54th minute. His incisive pass to Jackson Martinez was finished off well by the Porto man as it took a minor deflection off Atsuto Uchida. A bit of controversy occurred as Éder Álvarez Balanta could have been sent off. Balanta and Hasebe went up for header but the Colombian defender left his arm dangling so Hasebe collided into it causing him to bleed from his nose. Just a few moments later Japan had a wonderful chance to draw level. Hasebe and Uchida played a decisive one two passing, Hasebe then played a low but powerful cross, across the box which fell into the path of Yoshito Ōkubo put he blazed over from close range.
The Japanese rued their missed chances as Colombia went 3-1 up. Rodríguez, the architect of the goal once again assisted Jackson Martinez. A swift counterattack by the Colombian’s was finished off by Rodríguez again playing in a critical pass to Martinez, but still the lanky forward still had plenty to do, he mugged of his defender as he dummied and pulled onto his left foot, then whipped the ball delightfully past the helpless Eiji Kawashima in the Japan goal.
Then a moment of history occurred in the 85th minute as Faryd Mondragón came on a substitute, this meant he became the oldest player to ever play at the World Cup at the grand age of 43, surpassing Roger Milla’s record during the 1994 tournament.
In the 89th minute Colombian then put Japan to the sword as their clinical finishing outshone Japan’s valiant attempts. James Rodríguez, the star of the show broke on the counterattack swiftly on this as he received the ball and went on this Messiesque run, he dazzled Uchida as he went one way then the other, he the finished it off with a wonderful chip over Eiji Kawashima.
