In a World Cup that has already had its fair share of upsets, Japan creates theirs by being the first ever Asian team to defeat a South American opposition at the World Cup.

 

 

Asian teams in the past had managed just three draws in 17 matches against South American sides but the four-times Asian champions made their extra man count after Colombia midfielder Carlos Sanchez became the first player to get a red card in Russia.

 

 

His sending-off in the third minute, for a deliberate handball to stop a goal bound attempt by kagawa was the second fastest in World Cup history after Uruguay’s Jose Batista was dismissed after 55 seconds against Scotland in 1986.

 

 

Shinji Kagawa scored from the resulting penalty to give Japan the lead in the Group H match.

 

 

Juan Quintero’s clever low free kick in the 39th minute gave Colombia the equalizer but Yuya Osako leapt above his marker to head a corner into the net for Japan’s 73rd-minute winner.

 

 

With Colombia ranked 16th in the world and Japan 61st, the South Americans were expected to win convincingly but japan saw this as an opportunity for a revenge and they did so with a plum.

 

Photo Source: Getty Image