Tue, 30 Nov, -0001
Cuiaba: Japan's 2014 FIFA World Cup campaign ended in ignominy on Tuesday as the reigning Asian champions were swept aside 4-1 by Colombia at the Arena Pantanal, with the impressive James Rodriguez setting up two before maintaining his goal-a-game ratio with Los Cafeteros' fourth.
The mercurial Monaco attacking midfielder started on the bench as Colombia coach Jose Pekerman gave his fringe players a run by a raft of changes from the side that started the 2-1 victory over the Cote d'Ivoire with qualification to the Round of 16 already assured.
Japan's feint hopes of joining the South Americans in the knockout stage seemed to evaporate with little over a quarter-of-an-hour played when Yasuyuki Konno upended Adrian Ramos in the area allowing Juan Cuadrado to open the scoring from the penalty spot with 17 minutes played.
The Fiorentina forward's goal was his first since finding the net in Colombia's 3-0 friendly win over Jordan back in November 2012 and meant that Japan had no choice but to throw caution to the wind.
And in the final play before the interval they were on level terms courtesy of a superb diving header at the near post from Shinji Okazaki following Keisuke Honda's cross.
The goal gave Japan renewed hope but for the Samurai Blue it would be one step forward three steps back as the South Americans turned on the style in the second-half.
Colombia coach Pekerman made two changes after the interval, one of which was to bring in James Rodriguez in place of Juan Fernando Quintero and the 22-year-old winger needed just ten minutes to make a telling contribution, with his cool control and layoff setting up Jackson Martinez for Colombia's second.
The duo combined again with eight minutes left to play when Rodriguez supplied a sublime through-ball for Martinez to curl home his second and Colombia's third and after Pekerman delighted the Colombia fans by bringing on veteran keeper Faryd Mondragon, who at 43-years-old became the oldest player ever to appear at the World Cup finals, Rodriguez capped a memorable match by beating Maya Yoshida and flicking the ball over Eiji Kawashima to make it 4-1 (pictured).
Photo: AFP