Japan played out a 2-2 draw against South American powerhouse Uruguay to earn their first point of the group in the Copa America.

The Samurai Blue went into the match with the same four-men defence system that conceded four goals against Chile in the earlier round. Uruguay showed their intent early on when Luis Suarez robbed the ball in midfield and hit a long range missile at the Japan goal in the 3rd minute. Japan replied within the same minute as Shinji Okazaki directed a shot from a Koji Miyoshi’s cross into the side netting.

Both teams continue to attack each other and the first goal eventually happened in the 25th minute. Miyoshi broke through from the right and blasted the ball into the top corner of the net to give Japan the lead.

However, their joy was short-lived as Uruguay found an equaliser through a VAR-assisted penalty seven minutes later, where Naomichi Ueda was adjudged to have fouled Edinson Cavani in the box. Suarez converted from the spot and the first half ended 1-1.

Both teams continued to have a go at each other in the second half. In the 59th minute, Japan sent in a cross from the left, which goalkeeper Fernando Muslera could only push out onto the path of the onrushing Miyoshi. The winger promptly swept in his second goal of the match and regained Japan’s lead. But Uruguay made sure the lead did not last as Jose Gimenez headed in from a corner kick in the 66th minute. The match ultimately ended 2-2.

Japan will play Ecuador in their final group stage match on 24 June.

Japan 2-2 Uruguay

(Koji Miyoshi 25′, 59′ – Luis Suarez 32′ (P), Jose Gimenez 66′)

Starting XI: Kawashima, Tomiyasu, N.Ueda, Sugioka, Iwata (⬆️Tatsuta 87′), Shibasaki (C), Itakura, Nakajima, Abe (⬆️A.Ueda 67′), Miyoshi (⬆️Kubo 83′), Okazaki

Copa America Grp. C

P Team M W D L P 1 Uruguay 2 1 1 0 4 2 Chile 1 1 0 0 3 3 Japan Japan 2 0 1 1 1 4 Ecuador 1 0 0 1 0

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Source: Yahoo

Images: gettyimages