【Match Report】SAMURAI BLUE Hold Paraguay to a 2-2 Draw Thanks to Late Equaliser from UEDA Ayase

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11 October 2025

【Match Report】SAMURAI BLUE Hold Paraguay to a 2-2 Draw Thanks to Late Equaliser from UEDA Ayase

SAMURAI BLUE (Japan National Team) secured a 2-2 draw against the Paraguay National Team in the KIRIN CHALLENGE CUP 2025, held at Panasonic Stadium Suita on Friday 10 October. A dramatic late equaliser by substitute UEDA Ayase (Feyenoord) deep into stoppage time rescued a point for Japan.

Japan’s next fixture will be on Tuesday 14 October at Tokyo Stadium, where they are set to face the Brazil National Team.

As part of their preparations for the FIFA World Cup 26™, Japan demonstrated resilience by twice coming from behind to draw against a Paraguayan side that had recently qualified for the tournament via the CONMEBOL qualifiers, boasting a solid defensive record.

Japan lined up in a 3-4-2-1 formation. OGAWA Koki (NEC Nijmegen) led the line, supported by captain MINAMINO Takumi (AS Monaco) and DOAN Ritsu (Eintracht Frankfurt) in the attacking midfield roles. ITO Junya (KRC Genk) and NAKAMURA Keito (Stade de Reims) occupied the flanks, while SANO Kaishu (Mainz 05) and TANAKA Ao (Leeds United) anchored the midfield. The back three comprised SEKO Ayumu (Le Havre AC), WATANABE Tsuyoshi (Feyenoord), and SUZUKI Junnosuke (FC Copenhagen), with SUZUKI Zion (Parma Calcio 1913) starting in goal.

Following two goalless matches in September against Mexico and the United States, Japan began brightly with clear attacking intent, pressing high from the outset.

Paraguay, sticking closely to the starting line-up that helped them defeat Ecuador and secure World Cup qualification in September, deployed a 4-2-3-1 formation. They maintained a compact defensive shape while seeking to exploit the space behind Japan’s back line through the likes of Miguel ALMIRON, Diego GONZALEZ, and Antonio SANABRIA.

The visitors took the lead in the 21st minute. Damian BOBADILLA received the ball in midfield and lofted a long pass over the Japanese defence. Almiron timed his run perfectly, brought the ball under control with his left foot, and calmly slotted it past the goalkeeper to put Paraguay 1-0 ahead.

Japan responded swiftly. Just five minutes later, Sano won possession high up the pitch and found Ogawa, who turned sharply before unleashing a powerful shot from distance. The ball took a deflection off the goalkeeper and found the net, levelling the scores at 1-1.

Japan maintained a compact shape and applied consistent pressure. Ito linked up well with Doan down the right flank, while Nakamura – making his first appearance since the AFC Asian Qualifiers against Indonesia in June – frequently cut inside from the left to deliver dangerous crosses.

In the 40th minute, Ogawa met a cross from Nakamura with a powerful header in front of goal, forcing a save from the goalkeeper. However, the chance was ultimately ruled offside. Moments before half-time, Doan connected well with a free-kick from Ito, striking a fierce volley that was denied by the goalkeeper. Early in the second half, Ogawa had another headed effort saved from a corner, and later, Minamino saw his attempt from a Doan cross ruled out for offside.

Despite creating the better chances, Japan conceded the next goal.

In the 64th minute, Diego GOMEZ laid the ball out wide to Juan CACERES before sprinting into the box. Meeting the return cross with a well-timed header, the 22-year-old midfielder from Brighton and Hove Albion restored Paraguay’s lead at 2-1.

Japan responded by making several substitutions in pursuit of an equaliser. KAMADA Daichi (Crystal Palace), senior team debutant SAITO Koki (Queens Park Rangers), MACHINO Shuto (Borussia Monchengladbach), and SOMA Yuki (FC Machida Zelvia) were all introduced. In the 83rd minute, Soma delivered an excellent cross which Saito met with a header, but the effort went wide of the target.

With time running out, Ueda replaced Ogawa in the 89th minute – a substitution that proved pivotal.

Four minutes into added time, Soma’s free-kick was initially cleared by the Paraguayan defence. Ito collected the loose ball and delivered a pinpoint cross between the goalkeeper and the defenders. The ball found its way to Ueda at the far post, who launched himself into a diving header to send the ball into the net, levelling the match at 2-2.

Although Japan were unable to secure their first victory in three matches, they showed great spirit and attacking intent against a strong South American opponent, scoring twice to end their recent goal drought.

Before kick-off, a moment of silence was observed in memory of former JFA Vice President KAMAMOTO Kunishige, who passed away in August. A tribute video highlighting his illustrious career – including his record 75 goals for the national team and his key role in Japan’s bronze medal at the 1968 Mexico Olympics – was shown on the stadium screen.

Coach and Players' Comments

MORIYASU Hajime, Head Coach of SAMURAI BLUE (Japan National Team)
I’d like to express my gratitude to the home supporters, who created a fantastic atmosphere that encouraged our players to push beyond their current limits and strive for victory. Our aim was to keep a clean sheet while scoring the opening goal, but we ended up conceding twice and had to come from behind. While we played with a strong attacking mindset, this match reinforced the importance of defensive solidity. Conceding once is part of the game, but allowing multiple goals is something we must work to avoid. The principle that “good defending leads to good attacking” is something we must continue to refine. That said, I’m pleased we managed to score twice—particularly because both goals came from our forwards, the players we’ve been expecting and hoping to step up. This gives us a stronger foundation for the matches ahead. We now need to improve both the variety and quality of our chance creation. Since finishing the Asian qualifiers and facing teams from outside the region, we’ve noticed a clear difference in level—especially in the attacking third. We need to generate more opportunities and develop the ability to convert them, both individually and as a team. Today’s match highlighted the importance of gaining the lead while we’re in control of possession.

DF #25 SUZUKI Junnosuke (FC Copenhagen/Denmark)
It’s really frustrating to have conceded two goals, especially after we made adjustments based on the opposition’s strengths. Paraguay are very good at building their attacks once they find a foothold, so we tried to support each other and cut off their momentum early. For their second goal, I should have done a better job of closing the space. Even a one-metre gap can make all the difference at this level, so I need to be more precise and alert in those moments.

MF/FW #14 ITO Junya (KRC Genk/Belgium)
Paraguay are a strong side and there were certainly tough moments, but I felt we managed to break them down in the flanks on several occasions. Doan delivered some dangerous crosses, and Nakamura had a few good shooting chances. We also executed some quick counter-attacks effectively. Compared to our last match, I think we created more chances overall. That said, we’ve been conceding too many goals from crosses. Since we’re defending man-to-man, it’s vital that we deal with crosses more decisively and stay strong in one-on-one situations.

MF/FW #15 KAMADA Daichi (Crystal Palace/England)
After we conceded, our defensive shape started to fall apart, and things became difficult. When the opposition had more possession, it felt like we were pressing as individuals rather than as a unit. I don’t think it was a tactical issue, it was more about individuals losing their battles. That’s something we all need to take personal responsibility for. When the defence doesn’t function properly, it disrupts the attack as well. Still, it was a big positive that we managed to equalise. Losing a match like that would have been a blow to the team’s morale, so pulling level was important. It gives us something to build on heading into the next match.

MF/FW #18 UEDA Ayase (Feyenoord/Netherlands)
Things are definitely going my way at the moment. There are matches where you don’t get a single opportunity, but today the ball just happened to come to me, so I really feel like luck was on my side. With little time remaining, we went all-out in attack towards the end. That’s the kind of situation we might face at the World Cup. Scoring in my first match wearing the number 18 shirt made it even more special. My mum, who always supports me, and my dad, whom I admire deeply, were both in the stands today. So scoring and being able to give something back to them meant the world to me. Looking ahead to the Brazil match, I’ll be focused on making the most of whatever minutes I get. Of course, I’d love to score again—but more importantly, I want to contribute by reading the game well and adapting to the situation.

MF/FW #19 OGAWA Koki (NEC Nijmegen/Netherlands)
Throughout this campaign, Coach Nanami has consistently encouraged me to take chances whenever they come, and that thought was in my mind in that moment, which gave me the confidence to take the shot. I was able to control the ball in a position where I could strike cleanly and with power, which is something I always try to do. I’ve also noticed that my teammates are starting to understand my strengths more, and I can feel that I’m becoming a key target for set-pieces and crosses.

MF/FW #21 SANO Kaishu (Mainz 05/Germany)
I went into the game focused on defending—winning challenges and closing down space so the opposition couldn’t receive the ball comfortably. Mentally, I was determined to give it everything I had. With clear communication coming from the defenders behind me, it was much easier to carry out my role. We conceded in a very tightly contested game, and it’s clear that I still need to improve my ability to read the play and respond quickly as a holding midfielder.

Gustavo ALFARO, Head Coach of Paraguay National Team
It was a fantastic contest between two teams with very different styles of play. I faced Japan previously in 2022 when I was managing Ecuador, and I can say without hesitation that Japan have developed even further since then. I thought we managed to deal well with Japan’s attacking triangle, but the second half proved more difficult for us. The long travel and time difference definitely affected our physical condition, which may have played a part in us being unable to see the game out. The players were understandably disappointed to concede late on, but they approached this match with the same seriousness and commitment as they would a World Cup fixture, and that’s exactly the mindset we demand from this team.