Tue, 30 Nov, -0001
Brussels: AFC Asian Cup holders Japan claimed a notable European scalp on Tuesday when they came from a goal down to defeat fellow 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers Belgium 3-2 in an international friendly played in the Belgian capital.
Having rallied from a two-goal deficit to draw 2-2 with the Netherlands on Saturday the four-time Asian champions again found themselves playing catch-up after Romelu Lukaku rounded Japan keeper Eji Kawishima to give Everton team-mate Kevin Mirallas the simplest of tap ins with 15 minutes at the King Baudouin Stadium played.
Yoichiro Kakitani headed Japan on level terms with eight minutes of the first-half left to play before Keisuke Honda turned the match in favour of the East Asians with a powerful drive eight minutes after the interval.
Shinji Okazaki added a third ten minutes later and while Toby Alderweireld reduced the deficit in the 79th minute Japan held out for an impressive win over a nation ranked number five in FIFA’s global list.
Photo: AFP