Shinji Okazaki spared his own blushes by scoring just four minutes after missing a penalty in Japan's unconvincing 2-0 victory over Cambodia in Phnom Penh.
Japan coach Vahid Halilhodzic wanted goals aplenty against the whipping boys of Group E in the Asian qualifying section for the World Cup, but a combination of apparent complacency from his side and a spirited display from Cambodia meant the teams went in at half-time level.
However, Okazaki made amends shortly after, when he rose highest to bravely head a superb cross past Cambodia goalkeeper Um Sereyroth.
Keisuke Honda nodded in Japan's second in the last minute, but for minnows Cambodia - who had conceded 19 goals in six qualifying defeats before Tuesday's match - a 2-0 loss can be deemed creditable.
Halilhodzic's team, meanwhile, remain top of the pool and are now all-but certain of a top-two place after Syria beat Singapore in their second-versus-third clash.
The hosts' resolve looked set to be broken almost immediately after the restart when Nen Sothearath clumsily felled Kagawa in the box, but keeper Sereyroth came to his team-mate's rescue with an excellent save from Okazaki's spot-kick.
