Yuya Osako ensured four-time champion Japan began its AFC Asian Cup 2019 campaign with a 3-2 victory against Turkmenistan as he inspired a second-half fightback on Wednesday.
Samurai Blue coach Hajime Moriyasu promised before kick-off that his side was in "top shape", but it was outplayed by Turkmenistan for 45 minutes and the minnow was dreaming of a first finals win when captain Arslanmurat Amanov thundered in the opener.
Japan vs Turkmenistan: Minute-by-minute commentary and Stats
However, Osako scored twice after half-time before Ritsu Doan added a third and a crisis was averted for Japan and Moriyasu, who had also outlined the need to win by any means after seeing fellow big-hitters Australia slip up against Jordan.
Ahmet Atayev's penalty made things interesting again, but Japan can breathe a little easier ahead of its second match against Oman as it looks to secure swift passage through to the next stage.
Doan and Mekan Saparov wasted early close-range headers, before Shuichi Gonda was caught off guard by Amanov's sublime opener that fizzed past the wrong-footed goalkeeper from 30 yards. Gonda was soon in the spotlight again as he parried behind to deny Ruslan Mingazov, but Japan emerged with renewed vigour in the second half and Osako turned the game on its head.
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The forward turned smartly in the area to arrow a low shot into the net for the equaliser and then tapped in a second when Yuto Nagatomo beat Saparov at the byline.
Doan worked space on the left side of the area and picked his spot to seemingly put the result beyond doubt, although the erratic Gonda set nerves jangling again in the closing stages as he brought down Altymyrat Annadurdyyev and could not keep out Atayev's spot-kick. However, Japan held on to make a winning start.
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