Japan vs. Canada result & highlights from World Cup warmup match as late Cavallini penalty gives Les Rouges victory

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With the World Cup only days away, Canada warmed up for an opening group encounter with Belgium next Wednesday by sealing their first ever victory over Japan with an injury-time penalty in Dubai.

It was a deserved and highly encouraging victory for John Herdman’s side, who fell behind to an early goal by Japan’s Yuki Soma, who flicked home a ball over the top in the eighth minute.

But Canada were swiftly level as Japan struggled to deal with a series of dangerous corners from Junior Hoilett. Captain Atiba Hutchinson helped one on in the 21st minute and Steven Vitoria swept it home.  

Les Rouges might have led at the interval, with Liam Miller and Jonathan David spurning chances, and they continued to create the better opportunities after the break with the latter firing just wide.

Against the run of play, Japan almost snatched victory late on when Miki Yamane was sent through and hit the post, but the fullback then conceded a penalty three minutes into added time with a foul on Richie Laryea.

Fellow Canada substitute Lucas Cavallini converted – just – with an audacious panenka that Japan keeper Shuichi Gonda got a hand to, but couldn’t keep out.

Victory will give 200-1 World Cup outsiders Canada a huge lift as they prepare to tackle Kevin de Bruyne and company on November 23, while Japan’s confidence will have taken a dent before their opening match with Germany on the same day. 

MORE: Canada World Cup roster for Qatar 2022

Japan vs. Canada final score

  1H 2H Final
Japan 1 0 1
Canada 1 1 2

Goals:
8th min — JPN — Yuki Soma

21st min – CAN – Steven Vitoria

94th min – CAN – Lucas Cavallini (pen)

Lineups:

Japan (4-3-1-2, right to left): Gonda (GK) — Taniguchi, Itakura, Sakai, Ito; — Shibasaki, Tanaka, Asano — Minamino — Kubo, Soma;

Canada (3-4-3, right to left): 18.Borjan (GK) —  2. Johnston, 5. Vitoria, 4. Miller — 11. Buchanan, 13. Hutchinson, 6. Piette, 3. Adekugbe  — 10. Hoilett, 20. David, 17. Larin

MORE: Watch World Cup matches live with fuboTV (U.S.-only free trial)

Japan vs. Canada live updates, highlights from World Cup warmup match

FULL-TIME: Japan 1-2 Canada

90+4 mins: GOAL! Lucas Cavallini goes for a panenka and Shuichi Gonda gets a hand to it as he falls, but can’t keep it out. Canada ahead with seconds left!

90+3 mins: PENALTY TO JAPAN! Miki Yamane lunges in on Richie Laryea and the referee points to the spot.

90 mins: We’re into time added on now in Dubai. Can either side snatch a late winner?

88 mins: Japan hit the post! Against the run of play, Shibasaki releases Miki Yamane down the right. The full-back races clear but his precise shot hits the right post and bounces clear to safety. Let-off for Canada! 

85 mins: Jonathan David weaves his way into the Japan area and goes down under a light challenge, but the referee waves away his claims for a penalty. That one was never going to be given.

82 mins: It’s all Canada at the moment. Junior Hoilett again makes ground down the right and whips in a cross, but Jonathan David can’t get enough on his header and Shogo Taniguchi is able to clear.

80 mins: Lucas Cavallini has also looked lively since coming on for Canada and escapes clear down the left before the assistant referee’s raised flag halts him in his tracks. 

75 mins: Junior Hoilett has switched to the right flank since Tajon Buchanan’s departure and the winger beats a couple of men before firing in a cross right that Japan manage to clear. Just.  

73 mins: Close! Jonathan David finds space on the edge of the box and unleashes a fierce right-foot drive, but it skims past the left post. Canada looking for a possible winner.

65 mins: How’s this for a bit of skill from Jonathan David? Chapeau!

60 mins: A flurry of substitutions from Canada coach John Herdman, who sends on Richie Laryea, Mark-Anthony Kaye and Jonathan Osorio. Captain Atiba Hutchinson, who has lasted an hour on his return to action, is among those departing.

58 mins: Better from Japan, as Minamino and Yuki Soma link up on the edge of the area, but ultimately it comes to nothing as Canada mop up the danger.

53 mins: Tajon Buchanan, a bright spark for Canada down the right  throughout this match, escapes again to the byline before cutting inside, but Japan defender Hiroki Ito does just enough to put him off as his cross is deflected into the hands of Shuichi Gonda. 

48 mins: Junior Hoilett shows he still means business with a thumping tackle to win the ball. Fair challenge from the Reading man, who has been a constant threat for Canada. 

46 mins: We’re back underway at the Al Maktoum Stadium in Dubai.

HALF-TIME: Japan 1-1 Canada

So after a bright start from Japan, who went ahead through Yuki Soma’s well-taken goal in the eighth minute, that was an impressive response from Canada.

Junior Hoilett’s corners repeatedly exposed a weakness in the Japanese rearguard, and from one of them in the 21st minute, Steven Vitoria was able to bundle home from close range.

Canada should really be ahead, with Liam Miller and Jonathan David spurning further chances, but John Herdman will be pleased with how his side responded to that early setback.  

45+1 mins: Japan attacking now as we enter time added on at the end of this first half. Takumi Minamino looks like he might have a chance before a Canadian boot thumps it clear. 

42 mins: Ouch! Yuki Soma, Japan’s goalscorer, goes down holding his foot after Junior Hoilett appears to accidentally stamp on it as they both challenge for a loose ball. Some concerned faces on the Japanese bench briefly, but mercifully Soma is up on his feet again.  

41 mins: Junior Hoilett’s corners have been causing all manner of problems for Japan. Another inswinger flies across goal, where Liam Miller sticks out a leg but can’t get anything on it. 

33 mins: Canada’s Jonathan David does well to win the ball back and creates space for himself on the edge of the area, but the Lille striker snatches at the chance and his left-foot shot drifts wide. 

27 mins: From the resultant corner, which Japan again failed to deal with, Liam Miller heads over for Canada. They could have been ahead by now, but more promising signs for John Herdman’s side.

26 mins: Tajon Buchanan has been a real threat for Canada down the right flank in this first half and another promising run ends with a low shot saved at the near post by Japan keeper Gonda. 

21 mins: EQUALISER FOR CANADA! Japan fail to deal with another in-swinging corner from Junior Hoilett. It is helped on by Atiba Hutchinson and Steven Vitoria sweeps it home right-footed from close range.  

16 mins: Opportunity for Canada. A deep corner finds Junior Hoilett, who nods it down into the six-yard box. Japan clear as far as Cyle Larin on the edge of the area, but his left-foot effort is blocked.

8mins: GOAL TO JAPAN! A ball is clipped over the top of the Canada defence by Shibasaki and keeper Milan Borjan comes out but fails to reach it before Yuki Soma, who flicks it with the outside of his right boot into the net. Clever finish. 

3mins: Both teams feeling each other out in these early stages. Japan trying to play out from the back, but Canada’s Cyle Larin is keeping them on their toes. 

We’re underway!

2mins from kickoff: The anthems are underway at the Al Maktoum Stadium in Dubai, and we’ll be kicking off shortly.

10mins from kickoff: We’ve finally had confirmation of the Japan team, and here it is!

Japan (4-3-1-2, right to left): Gonda (GK) — Taniguchi, Itakura, Sakai; — Ito; Shibasaki, Tanaka, Soma; Asano; — Kubo, Minamino 

Final test in @FIFAWorldCup Preparation 👊#WeCAN pic.twitter.com/CxqQFKUQv1

30mins from kickoff: This is Canada’s final outing before only their second ever appearance at a World Cup, and their first since 1986 – where they failed to score a goal against France, Hungary or the Soviet Union. Ranked 41st in the world, Les Rouges have a formidable task ahead in Group F against Kevin de Bruyne’s Belgium, ranked second in the world, 2018 finalists Croatia (12th) and Morocco (22nd). But after a gruelling 20-match qualifying campaign, including trips to the hostility, heat and humidity of Honduras and El Salvador, this group are clearly made of stern stuff.

60mins from kickoff:  The Canada team is out! And the main headline is that talisman Alphonso Davies is not involved, either in the starting line-up or on the bench. Will he be fit to start the World Cup opener against Belgium after his recent hamstring issues?

75mins from kickoff: If you’re joining us from British Colombia or anywhere on the western side of North America, kudos to you, and GOOD MORNING!  The good news is you won’t have to get up quite this early for the three World Cup group games in Qatar.

  • Canada v Belgium, November 23, KO: 14:00 ET/11:00 PT
  • Canada v Croatia, November 27, KO: 11:00 ET/08:00 PT
  • Canada v Morocco, December 1, KO: 10:00 ET/07:00 PT 

90mins from kickoff: What of Canada’s opponents today? Japan, ranked 24th in the world, certainly find themselves in one of, if not THE, toughest groups in Qatar, alongside two European powerhouses in Spain and Germany. The Samurai Blue open their campaign against the Germans next Wednesday, November 23, before facing Costa Rica four days later. Their final Group E match is against 2010 champions Spain on December 1. 

If that looks a tough assignment, it is worth remembering Japan have reached the last 16 – but no further – in three of the last five World Cups, including 2018. Four years ago they pipped Senegal to second place behind Colombia in their group before bowing out 3-2 to Belgium, having led 2-0. 

MORE: Get the lowdown on Japan’s 26-man World Cup squad

2hrs 15mins from kickoff: A reminder that this friendly is taking place at the Al Maktoum Stadium in Dubai, a short hop across the Persian Gulf from the two sides’ bases in Qatar. It looks like Canada, 200-1 outsiders for the World Cup, have already been winning hearts and minds in the host country.  

3hrs from kickoff: Hello, and welcome to The Sporting News’ live coverage of today’s World Cup warmup match between Japan and Canada. It’s the final chance for both managers to see their squads in action before the real fun begins. They’ll also be hoping all players come through unscathed and avoid any late injuries…

Japan vs. Canada lineups, team news

Former Liverpool forward Takumi Minamino, now at Monaco, starts for Japan, with Takefusa Kubo also adding some star quality up front. Daichi Kamada is on the bench.

Japan (4-3-1-2, right to left): Gonda (GK) — Taniguchi, Itakura, Sakai; — Ito; Shibasaki, Tanaka, Soma; Asano; — Kubo, Minamino

Talisman Alphonso Davies is not fit enough to take his place in the Canada side as he recovers from recent hamstring injury issues. 

But Lille striker Jonathan David, with nine goals in 15 games for the French side so far this season, does start up front, with support from Reading winger Junior Hoilett and Club Bruges forward Cyle Larin. 

Canada (3-4-1-2, right to left): 18.Borjan (GK) —  2. Johnston, 5. Vitoria, 4. Miller — 13. Hutchinson, 6. Piette, 11. Buchanan 3. Adekugbe  — 10. Hoilett, 20. David, 17. Larin

Japan vs. Canada live stream, TV channel

  Date Time TV Channel Streaming
USA Thu, Nov. 17 08:40 ET — —
Australia Fri, Nov. 18 00:40 AEDT — —
UK Thu, Nov. 17 13:40 GMT — Bet365
Canada Thu, Nov. 17 08:40 EST — fuboTV, OneSoccer
Hong Kong Thu, Nov. 17 21:40 HKT — Now TV
India Thu, Nov. 17 19:10 IST — —
Malaysia Thu, Nov. 17 21:40 MYT — —
New Zealand Thu, Nov. 17 02:40 NZDT — —
Singapore Thu, Nov. 17 21:40 SGT — —
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