Japan vs Colombia, summary: Ángel, penalty miss, score, goals & highlights | Under-20 World Cup
Japan vs Colombia: as it happened
Full-time report:
Colombia come from behind in the second consecutive game to become the first team in the tournament to make it through to the Round of 16.
Tomás Ángel's second half strike was enough to give the South American side all three points after Asprilla had equalised earlier in the game.
The first half saw Colombia dominate the ball but it was Japan's Yamane who opened the scoring with a shot from a corner.
But Colombia hung on and started the second half in furious fashion, with Asprilla getting on the end of a delightful, sweeping move that cut Japan apart.
The second goal came soon after, with substitute Ángel finding the net after a cross was not cleared by Japan. But the drama was not over, as Torres was deemed to have handled the ball with just minutes to go.
Japan captain and talisman, Matsuki, stepped up the take the penalty, and thrashed his shot off the bar, ensuring that Colombia walked away with all three points and two wins from two.
Joe's MVP: Asprilla
Signing off!
Thanks for following the the absolute madness that was Japan 1-2 Colombia in the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Argentina.
That's not all the football we've got this week, oh no. Come back tomorrow where we've got a very tasty Uruguay vs England!
Anyway, that's enough from myself for your eyes. Head over to en.as.com if you can't get enough sports news (and the other news that you'll inevitably end up clicking on because it's all interesting over there).
Joe
The table is wide open for second spot:
Colombia - 6pts
Japan - 3pts
Israel - 1pt
Senegal - 1pt
Next games:
Japan vs Israel
Colombia vs Senegal
FULL TIME!
And that's all!
Marquinez dives out of his goal to claim a long pass and with it, he manages to kill a few precious seconds off the clock.
Chase wins the header from the resulting corner but Marquinez claims the ball.
The ball swung right around the defensive line and Chase's first touch wasn't smooth enough for him to get a decent shot away; the ball is poked out behind the goal for a corner.
CHASE COMES SO CLOSE TO SCORING!!
Manyoma fouls Sano as soon as the ball is in play and Japan want a second yellow...
Alexia Castillo Manyoma brings down Matsuda and gets a yellow.
Japan's attacking has become desperate: they have Colombia inside their own box and are firing shots like crazy towards goal.
MARQUINEZ SAVES THE SHOT
Matsuki is stood over the ball, but he's very angry with Asprilla's naughtiness. The free-kick is on the right corner of the box, a tempting angle for his left foot.
TEN (10) added minutes.
Señor José María Sánchez Martínez has refereed a very good game today.
Japan are pushing Colombia back and win a free-kick on the edge of the box.
Tanton and Velez ON
Ocampo and Puerta OFF
Puerta has gone down injured and the referee has made it clear that the time will be added on at the end.
Never mind that, it was off the bar!
Matsuki headed a long throw from the left onto the top of the bar!
WHAT A SAVE FROM MARQUINEZ
Japan keep pushing, but that penalty miss will be a huge blow. Matsuki is visibly furious with himself.
Fukuda ON
Yamane OFF
HE THREW ALL HIS POWER BEHIND THE SHOT AND IT CRASHED OFF THE BAR
CROSSBAR!!!!!
Matsuki to take...
The Colombia players continue to protest but the decision has already been made. Torres' hands were up and covering his face as the corner was swung in.
PENALTY TO JAPAN! HANDBALL!
The ball definitely hits Torres on the hand...
The referee is going to the VAR screen! Drama!
AND NOW JAPAN WANT A PENALTY!!
Mantilla's block loops dangerously over the head of Marquinez as Japan continue to push for a goal.
Marquinez punches out a dangerous cross from the right as Japan step up their pressure to find an equalising goal in the game.
The ball was rolled diagonally across the box and Castillo went for power but the shot was central and hit the palms of the goalkeeper.
KIMURA WITH A BIG SAVE
Fifteen minutes to go...
Tanaka gets a booking for pulling back Castillo as he tries to break away.
Matsuda's cross is blocked by Mantilla on the left and Japan have another corner.
Asprilla's close control when he is dribbling are delightful. It's like he works at a faster frame rate than the rest of the players and can get more movements in his legs per second.
Castilla ON
Cortes OFF
Japan have a free-kick a long way out that Fukui is standing over...
The training ground routine is easily stopped by Colombia's defence.
Sakamoto and Einaga ON
Kumata and Kitano OFF
Kimura gets off his line to clear a pass through the lines after the turn fromAsprilla was sensational and took out the entire midfield of the opposition.
Chase intercepts Puerta's pass but Salazar's ball through the midfield was simply superb. What a player he is already.
The corner comes to nothing and Colombia are now the team happiest to manage the game via possession.
Kitano wins a corner for Japan and they have their first moment to breathe in the half.
Puerta gets away behind the defence on the left side and hits a low ball that Kimura fails to deal with. The ball bounces in the box and Angel steps in quickest to smack a shot into the net. Cárdenas asks for cool heads from his players.
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLL
COLOMBIA TAKE THE LEAD
TOMÁS ÁNGEL WITH THE GOAL
Japan need to slow the game down now and make sure Colombia's adrenaline levels to return to idle. They're darting round the pitch like crazy.
Castillo's shot from distance is wild and flies over.
Takai covers well to stop Colombia, who have all the momentum in the game, from getting in behind once again.
A wonderful move from Colombia. The ball was worked from right to left to Salazar, who put his head down and ran with the ball towards the byline. The cross was low across the ground and the run from Asprilla was perfectly timed to hit a shot past Kimura from close range.
Japan undone and that's the first goal they've conceded all tournament. It will be interesting to see how they react.
The full-back made space for himself on the left and hit a low ball that Kimura stopped with an outstretched leg.
Kimura stops Salazar's cross!
Puerta does well to drive inside and fire in a cross that is headed away by the substitute, Matsuda.
Pinball on the edge of the Japanese box as nobody wants to take a controlling touch and instead continue the one-time rondo between both sides.
The corner was rolled to the edge of the box and Yamane, who attacked the ball like a freight train, hit a low drive towards Marquinez that was well saved.
YAMANE GOES CLOSE AGAIN!
Japan win an early corner, conceded by Salazar. Fukui to take.
He's OK to continue and we're back underway.
Yamane is down after receiving a hit in the face from Angel, who has been involved in literally everything since coming on.
And we're off!
Colombia kick off the second half.
Tomas Angel gets a telling-off from the referee before we start for wearing jewellery.
Castillo and Angel ON
Luna and Hurtado OFF
The players are back out for the second half!
Ready to go again!
Half-time stats:
Japan - Colombia
Possession: 40% - 60%
Shots: 3 - 6
Shots on target: 1 - 1
Big chances: 0 - 1
Passes: 189 - 281
Clearances: 17 - 10
Half-time report:
Yamane's goal is the difference at half time after a mis-hit shot from Yamane sneaked past Marquinez in the Colombia goal.
For 45 minutes this game has been at lightning speed, with both teams coming close on multiple occasions. Colombia, it must be said, have had the better chances and the more dangerous possession, with both Salazar and Ocampo causing trouble from full-back positions.
Asprilla tipped the crossbar and has looked lively, as has Luna in certain moments.
Japan will be happy to be ahead at the break and I also have to say that some of their close control magic would have Penn and Teller applauding: the way they manage to find impossibly small gaps that I can't see from my position is ludicrously good.
Half-time!
That's all for now!
1 added minute.
Kumata gets the ball stolen from him by Torres and Japan's move breaks down. Despite the scoreline, the Japanese forwards haven't seen much of the ball so far.
Puerta fires a long-range missile that bounces and falls kindly past Kimura's goal.
Takai anticipates a pass from Salazar and bursts down the right. Colombia sense the danger and instantly surround him, blocking off all avenues for the defender.
Takai then gets a warning for a late challenge, but no yellow card.
Hurtado looks hurt. The player seems to be holding his kidney/back. One to keep an eye on, perhaps.
Asprilla's dribbling style is outrageously difficult to predict and stop: it's like trying to tap dance with a spider.
The midfielder works some space on the edge of the box and hits a shot that is easily saved by Kimura.
Luna gets the ball from Salazar on the left but he slips as he hits the shot and it flies wide.
Sano gets on the end of the cross after Kumata can't quite stretch high enough to reach the header. Japan's passing is as slick as Danny Zuko's hair.
Chase has been excellent so far: nothing has got past him as he heads away yet another dangerous-looking Colombia cross.
Japan are making Colombia run if they want to get the ball back; the passing is slick and the South American side need to hold their shape because when they break it has been deadly.
Meanwhile, Sano has just got revenge by slipping the ball through the legs of Hurtado. As cool as you like.
As things stands, Japan are through to the Round of 16.
A corner is played short and then back towards the penalty spot. Yamane mis-kicks the ball that catches Marquinez off guard and Japan go ahead in La Plata!
YAMANE WITH THE GOAL
Kitano, with a left-footed effort, breezes his shot past the far post as Japan find space behind the Colombia midfield.
JAPAN GO CLOSE!
The turn was delightful from Asprilla as he broke down the right. The midfielder took the ball past a defender and saw his chipped effort flick off the leg of Chase and off the crossbar.
ASPRILLA OFF THE BAR!
Matsuki goes for the long-range effort over the head of Marquinez after the ball is given away in the Colombia defensive line. Mantilla got the vital block before the ball could rise in the air.
Ocampo and Cortes storm at the Japanese defence in unison, causing all sorts of problems on the right. They're a deadly duo that need keeping an eye on.
Remember, if one of these teams win the game tonight, they are through the round of 16 after just 2 games. A draw and the group is blown wide open.
Japan, when they have the ball at the back, are very happy to seem as though they are playing slowly, like 11 players who are happy with the point.
And then, just as you think that Colombia ought to step up and press, they break like 11 bolts of blue lightning.
Salazar with some beautiful skill to pop the ball through the legs of Sano, getting the crowd off their feet.
Ocampo, who has started very brightly, wins Colombia a corner.
Cortes breaks away down the right side and slides a delightful pass across the box that Asprilla just runs ahead of...
Takai worked the ball into the box and squared the ball across goal for Ocampo to clear.
Colombia had ramped up their press but Japan played through it delightfully and Sano was excellent on the right side.
STOPPED BY OCAMPO
HUGE CHANCE FOR JAPAN!
A moment of tennis-football as Japan come close and get into Colombia's box down the left. The attack is brought to and end with some good defending and Luna breaks away, only for Japan to clear.
Ocampo tries to find Hurtado through the lines but the Japanese defence squeeze and win the ball back. Over 60% possession for Cárdenas' men so far.
It's been a very even game in the opening stages. Colombia have had the better of the chances, but Japan look slick on the ball and are pressing well. It's quite the tactical battle that is unfolding on the pitch.
Japan try to calm Colombia's onslaught with some slick possession around the back. The South American side are happy to sit off them as the ball is passed between centre-backs.
HUGE CHANCE FOR COLOMBIA
Ocampo makes a fantastic run down the right and his cross nearly finds the head of Hurtado, who misses the ball by inches.
Chase, erm, chases the ball down and clears the danger.
Matsuki fouls Ocampo as Japan press the Colombia back line high. The game has started off with both teams at 100%.
Luna breaks in behind the Japanese defence but Chase gets down well to stop the cross from coming in.
The rebound falls to Asprilla, who decides against shooting...
Remember what I said about the weather?
Well, I think a thunderstorm is a-coming...
Asprilla evades Japan's press in the middle and opens the play towards Luna, but the ball flies high and out the other side of the pitch.
Japan are the first team to make in roads into the opposition box: Sano receives the ball from the right and plays a low cross that is cleared by Mantilla.
Japan have started off very quickly, and are looking to press Colombia back into their defensive third.
Underway in La Plata!
Japan get us going in the game.
(We have VAR, by the way)
Here come the players!
Time for the national anthems!
Japan's is nice and slow, a very smooth number.
Colombia, well it's all trumpets and quite shouty.
No early points, that's a draw in my book.
Pre-match weather check in La Plata...
It's over 20 degrees in La Plata, home of both Estudiantes and Gimnasia. We had some rain earlier but it seems as though that has now passed.
Remember, a win here will put one one of the teams through to the next round with a game to spare.
The stadium is by no means full, but there are plenty of smiley supporters with flags and banners supporting their country!
10 minutes to go!
Here's a reminder of the starting XIs:
Japan: Kimura; Tanaka, Chase, Takahashi, Takai; Yamane, Fukui, Sano, Kitano; Matsuki, Kumata
Colombia: Marquinez; Ocampo, Álvarez, Mantilla, Salazar; Puerta, Asprilla, Cortes, Torres, Luna; Hurtado
Think that this is the only game tonight on AS USA? Think again!
We've got Brazil vs Dominican Republic over on the other... channel? Anyway, Will G is all over it, so make sure to check it out!
What's that? You want to watch the game with your eyes and follow the live coverage with your eyes as well?
Well, you've come to the right place. Here's all the information you need on how to watch tonight's game in Argentina, wherever you are in the world.
Both sides are here at the stadium in La Plata
The warmup routines for both XIs have started on the pitch and in around 20 minutes time the players will be making their way down the tunnel to get ready for the game!
Japan starting XI:
[4-4-2]
GK: Kimura
DEF: Tanaka - Chase - Takahashi - Takai
MID: Yamane - Fukui - Sano - Kitano
ATT: Matsuki (c) - Kumata
Oficial / FCF
Who's the gaffer?
Héctor Cárdenas is the manager of the Colombia Under-20 side.
The 43-year-old from Cali has taken charge of the Colombia Under-17s as well as stood in as interim manager of the first team in May 2022 before Néstor Lorenzo took charge.
As for Japan, their manager is Koichi Togashi, a 51-year-old who played as a defender. His clubs included Verdy Kawasaki, Yokohama Flugels and Consadole Sapporo.
In terms of management, he has been in charge of Tokyo Verdy and Japan's Under-19 side.
Fran Santiago / Getty Images
Before you say 'I recognise that referee's name!'
Yes, it's everybody's favourite person named José María Sánchez Martínez, the LaLiga referee.
Born in Lorca, Murcia, on 3 October 1983, Sánchez Martínez is one of Spain's most recognisable referees.
He became a Primera División referee in the summer of 2015.
He has taken charge of Champions League, Europa League, Conference and Nations League matches.
CRISTINA SILLE / REUTERS
As for Japan...
The Japanese's best finish at an Under-20 World Cup was in 1999, where they came in second place.
The 1999 FIFA World Championship was held in Nigeria and Japan came top of their group that consisted of the USA, Cameroon and England (who didn't score a goal and game bottom).
They beat Mexico and Uruguay in the knockout rounds before Spain won 4-0 in the final.
Naohiro Takahara was Japan's top scorer with 3 goals.
Demian Alday Estevez / EFE
Who has the best finish at the Under-20 World Cup?
Colombia: The South Americans came third in the 2003 edition of the tournament, known back then as the FIFA World Youth Championship. Curiously, Colombia had Japan in the group stage then, and beat them 1-4 in Dubai.
They beat the Republic of Ireland and the UAE before losing to eventual runners-up, Spain, in the semi-finals. A goal from Espanyol striker Sergio García knocked them out.
In the third-place playoff, the team, led by Reinaldo Rueda, beat Argentina 2-1.
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Here are the top 10 Latino stars to watch during the Under-20 World Cup, according to AS.
If you feel that any names are missing, then head over to our Twitter, @English_AS, and let us know! I'll argue back, it will be fun.
LUIS ROBAYO / AFP
About the stadium...
The game is to be played at the Estadio Ciudad de La Plata, which is also known as the Estadio Único Diego Armando Maradona.
The stadium, opened in 2003 and located in the province of Buenos Aires, holds an astonishing 53,000 people and both Japan and Colombia played their previous games here.
Here's how the group looks:
Colombia sit atop of the group with Japan hot on their tails. The South American side are above their rivals byvirtue of goals scored, as they have 2 whereas the Japanese have just one.
As for Japan, they beat Seengal 0-1 thanks to an early goal from wonderkid Kuryu Matsuki.
Colombia's victory came over Israel, with a 2-1 win giving them three points. A penalty from Dor Turgeman put Israel 0-1 up before Oscar Cortés scored from the spot just minutes later. The game seemed to be racing towards a draw, until Gustavo Puerta scored a 90th minute winner to start off Colombia's tournament in the best way possible.
Welcome!
Here we are again with more live football coverage at AS USA.
Welcome along to the minute-by-minute of Japan vs Colombia in the Under-20 World Cup!
It's Joe here to guide you through the laughter and tears in Argentina this evening.