Japan Gives Colombia a Samurai Surprise

The last batch of World Cup squads finally got their belated show on the road, and one of them wasted no time in erasing a bitta chalk.

One of the players, meanwhile, wasted no time getting an early shower.

Maybe dude didn't trust how much warm water was available in Saransk's cozy and hurriedly built -- open for biz this April -- Mordovia Arena.

Whatever. He damn near set a tournament record for fastest red card ever. If only he'd handled a ball in the box three seconds sooner.

 

Almost a week into the tourney, Group H finally got to take shape, and it's not quite what anyone expected.

Japan's rounded out the World Cup's field ever since 1998 and even made the Round of 16 in 2002 and 2010. Most figured the Samurai Blue would need a few breaks to get that far this time around.

 

Or sub in that dude.

With stars Radamel Falcao and James Rodríguez, Los Cafeteros -- Coffee Growers -- were clearly the favorites, but that's why they play the game. Japan surprised and defeated the Colombians, 1-2.

The game barely started when Japan actually got a max break with an early snipe. The 'keeper saved it, but the caromed bounced perfectly to set up a second strike. That's when Carlos Sánchez desperately tried a Hand of God thing.

Unfortunately for him, that only worked once:

 

It was the first red card in this World Cup, 2:56 into the match. Only José Alberto Batista of Uruguay -- shocking ... not -- got busy after only 54 seconds in Scotland back in 1986.

Incidentally, that was Shinji Kagawa doing the honors.

One man down, Colombia couldn't create good chances, even though they were trying. Japan carried the action, but, around 30 minutes into it, the South Americans finally found their game. Nine minutes later, in a free-kick that Ronaldinho Gaúcho would surely approve, Juan Quintero fired low under the jumping Japanese wall and equalized.

Take it away, Mr Play-By Dude:

 

Full marks to Colombia, as they held their own for a good portion of the second half. Inevitably, though, Japan began to gain the momentum.

Finally, in the 73rd minute, Yuya Ozak broke through:

Proof yet again that 11 beats 10.

Group H has just become one of the World Cup's most interesting.