Japan's Koya Kitagawa (L) and Venezuela's Nahuel Ferraresi fight for the ball during their international friendly soccer match in Oita, Oita Prefecture, Japan in this photo taken by Kyodo November 16, 2018. Mandatory credit Kyodo/via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. MANDATORY CREDIT. JAPAN OUT. NO COMMERCIAL OR EDITORIAL SALES IN JAPAN.
TOKYO (Reuters) - Venezuela captain Tomas Rincon’s penalty nine minutes from fulltime rescued a 1-1 draw in a friendly against Japan in Oita on Friday after Hiroki Sakai scored his first international goal for the hosts.
Japan came into the match on the back of three wins from three under new coach Hajime Moriyasu but they could not maintain their perfect record as they continue preparations for the Asian Cup in the United Arab Emirates, beginning Jan. 5.
