The 2-1 win marked a bright start for the Samurai Blue in Russia, sporting a completely different style compared to the team at the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

In his first competitive game in charge, coach Akira Nishino was unsurprisingly buoyed by the way they have kicked off the tournament. 

“We finished the first match with the best possible result, which I think now hands us a good advantage."

Osaka’s 73rd minute header was the difference between the sides as the Japanese made the most of their one-man advantage over the South Americans, who saw Carlos Sanchez sent off with just three minutes on the clock.

Shinji Kagawa gave Japan the lead from the penalty spot only for Juan Quintero to level the scores six minutes before the break.

But Nishino’s side took the initiative in the second half and, after creating a string of chances, Osako pounced 17 minutes from time to give Japan their first World Cup win since a 3-1 triumph over Denmark in 2010.

The East Asians could not have got off to a better start when Carlos Sanchez was dismissed for handling Shinji Kagawa’s goalbound effort in the third minute and Kagawa coolly slotted the penalty home.

Colombia responded well and equalised through Juan Quintero before the interval, but Japan came back strongly and secured all three points after Yuya Osako’s decisive goal.

Yuya Osako's 73rd-minute winner meant the Japanese avenged their 4-1 mauling in the group stages of Brazil 2014 as Colombia played with a man down for 87 minutes in Saransk.

After leaving Brazil without a win four years ago, Japan made a dream start to their Russia 2018 campaign even though head coach Akira Nishino was only appointed in April.

In an explosive start to the Group H clash, Colombia defender Carlos Sanchez earned the first red card of the tournament with a handball after just three minutes.

Japan took the lead when Shinji Kagawa netted the resulting penalty before Juan Quintero equalised with a free kick for Colombia to make it 1-1 at half-time.

Brazil 2014 topscorer James Rodriguez came on for the last half-hour after labouring in training with a calf strain but could not pull his side level after Osako's goal.

Uruguay booked their place in the knockout stage along with Russia, as Luis Suarez scored the winner on his 100th international appearance.

The 31-year-old Suarez, whose previous two World Cups both ended in bans after his infamous 2010 handball against Ghana and bite on Italy's Giorgio Chiellini four years later, took advantage of a goalkeeping error by Mohammed Al Owais to put Uruguay ahead midway through the first half.

With all the teams having now played one match, the-AFC.com highlights some of the key statistics among the Asian sides in the first of our World Cup Stats Wraps.

Long-distance catch-ups, post-match selfies, meet-and-greets with fans and training sessions all feature in this week’s selection of what’s going on in the players’ lives in Russia.