OSAKA: Rafael Borre scored a spectacular overhead winner as Colombia came from behind to beat Japan 2-1 in a friendly in Osaka on Tuesday.

Kaoru Mitoma gave Japan a third-minute lead with a towering header but Colombia equalised later in the first half through teenager Jhon Duran.

Striker Borre settled the game with an acrobatic strike just after the hour mark, launching himself into a right-footed strike that whistled past Japan goalkeeper Daniel Schmidt.

Mitoma gave Japan the perfect start when he rose to thump Hidemasa Mori­ta’s cross past Colombia goalkeeper Camilo Vargas.

Colombia equalised in the 33rd minute when Deiver Machado raided down the left before cutting the ball back for Duran to sweep home.

Colombia showed more attacking intent after the break and Jorge Carrascal almost scored with a deflected shot that looped up and over the crossbar.

Borre showed him how it was done just minutes later, and Colombia held on to their lead when Var­g­as kept out Japan striker Ayase Ueda’s header with a point-blank save.

Meanwhile, Matias Vec­ino scored from close ran­ge in the second half as Uruguay also earned a 2-1 win over South Korea in Seoul, handing Juergen Klinsm­ann his first defeat in his second game at the helm of the Taeguk Warriors.

Klinsmann was appoi­nted last month to replace Paulo Bento and has not won in either of his first two games in charge.

Defender Sebastian Coates gave the Urugu­ayans the lead in the 10th minute when he rose above the defence to head in Federico Valverde’s corner.

But Hwang In-beom levelled six minutes after the interval when, with the Uruguayan defence in disarray, Lee Ki-je cut the ball back for the midfielder to slot in.

Vecino restored his side’s lead in the 63rd minute when he pounced on a loose ball in the six-yard box after Jo Hyeon-woo had parried Joaquin Piquerez’s free kick from outside the area.

ECUADOR BEAT AUSTRALIA

Earlier, Ecuador new coach Felix Sanchez got his first victory as the South Americans edged Australia 2-1 with William Pacho scoring the winner on his debut at the Marvel Stadium.

The visitors went behind to a 16th-minute strike from Brandon Borello in front of 27,000 fans in Melbourne.

But they bounced back in a dominant second half, with Pervis Estupinan converting a penalty before Pacho headed home from a corner.

It was a first win for Spaniard Sanchez, who replaced Argentine Gust­avo Alfaro this month.

Ecuador’s dangerous striker Kevin Rodriquez went close in the opening minutes but it was Aust­ralia who struck first.

Craig Goodwin unlea­shed a 25-yard rocket that crashed off the post stra­ight to Borello, who crisply finished for his first international goal.

Rodriquez earned a penalty five minutes into the second half when his speed and skill proved too much for defender Tho­mas Deng, who brought him down, with skipper Estupinan stepping forward to convert from the spot.

Ecuador took charge as Australia tired and their pressure paid off in the 65th minute when Junior Sornoza’s curling corner was met by the giant Pacho, who angled his header past the keeper.

Published in Dawn, March 29th, 2023