Uruguay lose 3-1 to Japan in friendly international

In their first match under interim manager Diego Forlán, the Uruguay national team lost 3-1 to Japan in an international friendly at Miyagi Stadium. Two late goals sealed a defeat that leaves La Celeste without a win in their last five outings.

How the match unfolded

Japan took an early lead. In the 11th minute, Kuryu Matsuki finished from a Keito Nakamura pass to beat goalkeeper Santiago Mele. Uruguay managed to level before the break. In the 42nd minute, Maximiliano Araújo fired home to score a consolation goal. Forlán's side held parity for much of the second half, but their resistance crumbled in stoppage time. K.

Reaction and context

The match highlighted a difficult run for Uruguay, who have now lost three and drawn two of their last five matches. This result means the team is on a run of two consecutive defeats. Statistically, Uruguay had nine shots but only three were on target, while Japan, with six shots on target from nine attempts, showed greater accuracy. Rodrigo Bentancur and José Giménez received yellow cards late in the contest.

The defeat comes during a period of preparation for upcoming competitive fixtures. Uruguay currently sit third in their World Cup qualifying group, with two points from three games. The team now faces another friendly challenge next. Their next fixture is against South Korea, to be played on Monday, 28 September. Fans can check the full national team schedule on our fixtures page and the first-team squad status in the squad section.