Japan Men's National Team | FIFA World Cup History, 1998–2018

Japan led 2-1 in a match they only had to win to qualify, but conceded an equalizer in second-half added time. The match was not a defeat but a 2-2 draw, and the key point is that results elsewhere dropped them from first place to third.

Okano was sent on as extra time began and, in the 118th minute, bundled in the rebound from a long-range Hidetoshi Nakata shot. Under the golden goal rule then in force the match ended the moment he scored, so it was this substitute's strike — not a penalty shoot-out — that settled the 3-2 win and the first qualification.

Nakayama scored in the 74th minute with Japan 0-2 down, becoming the first Japanese scorer at a men's World Cup. That goal did not, however, bring a win or a draw: Japan lost to Jamaica 1-2. The individual and team milestone has to be kept separate from the result.

Junichi Inamoto scored in the opening match against Belgium and then got the only goal against Russia. Suzuki scored against Belgium and Morishima against Tunisia, while Hidetoshi Nakata hit the bar against Russia but did not score the winner.

Australia equalized through Tim Cahill in the 84th minute, went ahead through the same player in the 89th, and John Aloisi added a third in added time. Cahill's part was neither the equalizer alone nor all three goals, but the two that turned the match around.

Honda's goal was the only one of the match, and Japan won their opening fixture 1-0. It was neither direct from a free kick nor scored in extra time, so it is important not to confuse how and when it was scored with another match.

Honda and Endo each converted a direct free kick in the first half, and late on Honda rounded the goalkeeper and cut the ball back for Okazaki to score the third. Not all three came from free kicks: Honda was both a scorer and a provider.

With Japan 1-0 up in the second half, Drogba came on and Bony scored immediately afterwards, followed by Gervinho. The substitution is often spoken of as the turning point, but the fact that Drogba did not score himself is what separates the correct answer from the likely confusions.

Japan beat Colombia 2-1, the first time an Asian side had beaten a South American side at a World Cup. Kagawa converted an early penalty, the score was levelled, and Osako got the winner in the second half — so this is the pairing where both the record and the scorer's part match.

Belgium goalkeeper Courtois caught Honda's corner, starting a break of roughly eleven seconds finished by the substitute Chadli. Lukaku let the ball run through in the middle to create the chance but was not the finisher. It was the moment Japan's set piece turned into the opposition's counter.