Japan beats Paraguay 4-2 for 1st win under coach Nishino
Posted June 12, 2018 7:00 am
INNSBRUCK, Austria (AP) - Japan won its first match under coach Akira Nishino, getting two second-half goals from Takashi Inui in a 4-2 win over Paraguay on Tuesday.
Inui's goals made up for Paraguay's opening strike by Oscar Romero in the 32nd minute, while an own-goal by Federico Santander made it 3-1 in the 77th. Richard Ortiz netted for Paraguay in the 90th before Shinji Kagawa added Japan's fourth in injury time.
Japan had lost 2-0 to both Ghana and Switzerland in its previous matches under Nishino, who took over from Vahid Halilhodzic in April.
Japan will play against Colombia in its Group H opener in Saransk on Tuesday before facing Senegal and Poland.
Paraguay failed to qualify for the World Cup in Russia.
Japan's head coach Akira Nishino looks on prior the friendly soccer match between Japan and Paraguay in the Tivoli Stadium in Innsbruck, Austria, on Tuesday, June 12, 2018. (AP Photo/Kerstin Joensson)
The Associated Press
Japan's Shinji Kagawa, right, and Paraguay's Gustavo Gomez challenge for the ball during the friendly soccer match between Japan and Paraguay in the Tivoli Stadium in Innsbruck, Austria, on Tuesday, June 12, 2018. (AP Photo/Kerstin Joensson)
The Associated Press
Japan's Takashi Inui, left, and Paraguay's Alan Benitez challenge for the ball during the friendly soccer match between Japan and Paraguay in the Tivoli Stadium in Innsbruck, Austria, on Tuesday, June 12, 2018. (AP Photo/Kerstin Joensson)
The Associated Press
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