Japan wins a nail-biting victory before the World Cup.

On the evening of May 31st, Japan concluded their preparations for the 2026 World Cup with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Iceland in a friendly match held in Tokyo.

Ogawa, the only guy to score for Japan.

The only goal of the match was scored in the 87th minute by a header from Koki Ogawa, giving the "Blue Samurai" a fitting farewell to their fans before heading to North America.

Despite being considered the superior team, Japan had a difficult match. Coach Hajime Moriyasu's team controlled the game for most of the time but struggled against Iceland's well-organized defense.

Japan created numerous chances in the first half. Keito Nakamura constantly troubled the Icelandic defense, while Takefusa Kubo also tried his luck with long-range shots. However, goalkeeper Hakon Valdimarsson played brilliantly to keep a clean sheet for the visitors.

Conversely, Iceland also had some notable counter-attacks. Goalkeeper Zion Suzuki had to make several saves against dangerous situations created by Dagur Dan Thorhallsson and Logi Tomasson.

Just when the match seemed destined for a draw, Japan unexpectedly found the decisive moment. In the 87th minute, Yukinari Sugawara delivered a precise cross from the right wing, and Ogawa rose high to head the ball into the net against Iceland. The ball hit the post before going into the net, securing a valuable victory for the home team.

The victory boosted Japan's confidence ahead of their eighth consecutive World Cup appearance. In the group stage of the 2026 World Cup, coach Moriyasu's team will face the Netherlands, Tunisia, and Sweden in their quest to advance further in North America.

Source: https://znews.vn/tuyen-nhat-ban-thang-nghet-tho-truc-world-cup-post1655847.html