HIROSHIMA - Ayase Ueda scored a brace, including a penalty in a frantic end to the game, as Japan saw off Venezuela 2-1 in an international friendly on Monday.
The 17th-ranked Samurai Blue were given a tricky game under heavy rain at Edion Peace Wing Hiroshima as manager Hajime Moriyasu returned to Hiroshima where he came to prominence as both player and manager while at Sanfrecce.
"There were no three points to be won in this game, but we were able to grind out a win in the end with the players showing tenacity," Moriyasu said. "I feel it's extremely meaningful to have players with little experience starting against a team with high intensity."
"I wanted to take this game on with a sense of gratitude...This was my last game as Japan manager here (in Hiroshima) and I want to thank the fans for their warm support."
Moriyasu made 10 changes from his team's 3-1 win over Uruguay on Thursday, handing Japan debuts to goalkeeper Leo Brian Kokubo, Hiroshima's utility man Shuto Nakano who started as a right wing-back, midfielder Koki Kumasaka and attacker Shunsuke Saito.
But Kumasaka, who ruptured his right knee ligament while with the national team in June last year, was stretchered off only eight minutes into the match and replaced by former Sanfrecce midfielder Satoshi Tanaka.
Daichi Kamada, the only regular starter for the Samurai Blue, wore the captain's armband and set up Japan's first chance in the 32nd minute but Yuki Soma's shot was too tame.
Ryunosuke Sato then had a deflected shot saved before Keisuke Goto steered wide a one-on-one with Venezuela keeper Jose Contreras.
Kokubo had a job to do at the other end too, denying a deflected header off a corner before the hosts defended a goal-mouth scramble in first-half stoppage time.
Zion Suzuki, Ao Tanaka, Junya Ito, Takefusa Kubo and Ayase Ueda all entered the fray after the break, but Nakano was nutmegged by Luis Balbo before Kevin Kelsy scored off a square ball first time into the bottom corner just a minute after the break for the visitors.
Japan were level within three minutes though as Ito's cross from the left was met by Ueda who slid home, the goal standing after an offside review, before Bryan Castillo volleyed wide for Venezuela as the game suddenly opened up.
Hiroki Ito, Ritsu Doan and Keito Nakamura came on with less than 20 minutes to go before Suzuki spilled a shot from distance with Jesus Ramirez sending the rebound wide.
The keeper, who has made a bright start to life at Aston Villa, also had a tricky long ball behind the Japan backline to deal with before the hosts were reduced to 10 men.
Having used all their substitutions, Tsuyoshi Watanabe was injured and it initially seemed to be costly as Japan looked to have conceded a penalty in second-half stoppage time.
But the referee gave a spot kick instead to Japan following a review for a foul on Kubo moments earlier, with Ueda finding the bottom left corner.
"My movement for the first goal was a bit complicated, but Junya found me perfectly. It was all down to the pass," Ueda said. "There was an accident (going down to 10 men) but it was significant we stayed patient and got the winner."
