International Friendly: Belarus 1 Japan 0

News
By published

A superb first-half strike from midfielder Jan Tigorev gave Belarus a 1-0 friendly win over Japan on Tuesday.

Tigorev struck a minute before half-time to give Georgi Kondratjev's men only their second win in seven matches.

Japan coach Alberto Zaccheroni kept faith with the same XI that had slipped to defeat against Serbia on Friday, but they produced another uninspired performance as they lost their penultimate international of the year.

Japan did not heed that warning, though, and after 44 minutes they fell behind when Tigorev met Timofei Kalachev's lay-off with a fierce drive that flew past Kawashima and into the top corner.

Kondratjev's side continued to push after half-time and almost doubled their lead 10 minutes into the second half as Kawashima turned substitute Vitali Rodionov's effort around the post.

Zaccheroni's men remained a dangerous attacking force and were denied a leveller just before the hour mark, Veremko blocking Okazaki's effort at the near post after he had latched on to Masato Morishige's knock-down.

Veremko again came to Belarus' rescue as he tipped Maya Yoshida's header over the crossbar, and that proved to be the last real chance of the game as the European side held on for victory.