A dramatic late winner from Koki Ogawa ensured Japan signed off from home soil with victory as the Samurai Blue edged Iceland 1-0 in the Kirin Challenge Cup at the Olympic Stadium, Tokyo.
In front of a crowd of 62,212 supporters, Japan struggled for long periods to break down Iceland’s disciplined defensive block before Ogawa’s 87th-minute diving header finally separated the two sides. The result extended Japan’s winning streak to six consecutive international matches and marked a fifth straight clean sheet heading into the FIFA World Cup 2026.
With the World Cup just two weeks away, head coach Hajime Moriyasu fielded a strong lineup featuring several established stars.
The occasion also carried special significance as veteran defender Maya Yoshida returned for a one-off international appearance and captained the side. The former skipper started the match before being substituted in the 13th minute according to a pre-arranged plan, receiving a standing ovation from the crowd.
Yoshida’s remarkable international career was celebrated by teammates and opponents alike, honoring his 127 caps, three FIFA World Cup appearances, and years of leadership with the national team.
Japan also welcomed back key figures including Takehiro Tomiyasu, making his first national-team start in nearly two years, and captain Wataru Endo, who recently returned from injury.
Japan controlled possession throughout the opening half but found it difficult to penetrate Iceland’s compact 5-4-1 defensive setup.
Creative talents such as Takefusa Kubo, Junya Ito and Keito Nakamura worked tirelessly to unlock the visitors, yet clear-cut opportunities remained limited.
Kubo came closest before halftime, testing the Icelandic defense with several intelligent passes and long-range efforts, while Nakamura and Tomiyasu both forced saves from the goalkeeper.
At the other end, Iceland threatened sporadically through direct attacks and long balls, forcing Zion Suzuki into important interventions to preserve the deadlock.
Moriyasu responded at halftime by making four substitutions, introducing Ogawa, Yuto Nagatomo, Yukinari Sugawara and Ayumu Seko.
The changes injected fresh energy into Japan’s attack. Particularly impressive was Seko, who excelled in midfield with aggressive interceptions and progressive passing, helping Japan maintain pressure throughout the second half.
Despite dominating possession and territory, however, the breakthrough continued to elude the Samurai Blue as Iceland’s defense stood firm.
Just as the match appeared destined to finish scoreless, Japan finally found the moment they had been searching for.
In the 87th minute, Sugawara surged down the right flank and delivered a dangerous cross into the penalty area. Ogawa timed his run perfectly and launched himself forward, directing a diving header past the goalkeeper and into the net via the post.
The goal sparked celebrations throughout the National Stadium and provided a deserved reward for Japan’s persistence.
Iceland attempted a late response with a barrage of long balls into the penalty area, but substitute goalkeeper Tomoki Hayakawa produced several confident interventions to secure the clean sheet.
Credit Photo : JFA
