Japan 2 – Scotland 0

Steven Whittaker

A Christophe Berra own goal and a side-footed effort by Keisuke Honda in the final eight minutes earned Japan victory over a makeshift Scotland at Nissan Stadium in Yokohama.

Berra blotted an otherwise solid performance in the centre of Scotland’s defence when he put the ball into his own net after 82 minutes to give Japan the lead.

And with just seconds remaining, Honda doubled his side’s advantage when the Scotland defence failed to clear a low cross by substitute Yuichi Komano before VVV Venlo midfielder Honda stroked the ball beyond Craig Gordon.

Scotland boss George Burley handed debuts to four players for a game that had been blighted in the build-up by the withdrawal of 10 players from the squad in the days leading up to the journey to Japan.

A long and disastrous trip, both on and off the park, and for what? Absolutely nothing.

Posted on October 10, 2009 | Filed Under Football