Osako’s 73rd-minute winner meant the Japanese avenged their 1-4 mauling in the group stages of Brazil 2014 as Colombia played with a man down for 86 minutes in Saransk.

After leaving Brazil without a win four years ago, Japan made a dream start to their Russian campaign even though Head Coach Akira Nishino was only appointed in April.

In an explosive start to the Group ‘H’ clash Colombia defender Carlos Sanchez earned the first red card of Russia 2018 with a handball after just four minutes.