Japan squandered a two-goal lead and had to settle for a share of the spoils after a 2-2 draw with Latvia in the first of two international friendlies in Riga on Saturday.
Japan forward Atsushi Yanagisawa shoots in the first half of an international friendly match against Latvia Saturday in Riga. The match ended in a 2-2 draw.
Japan looked to be on its way to a comfortable win on the Baltic coast thanks to an early blockbuster from Naohiro Takahara and a second-half penalty from Shunsuke Nakamura.
Vits Rimkus reduced the deficit in the 67th minute, but Japan still looked to have done enough to claim victory in the first meeting between the two countries until Andrejs Rubins pounced on an error from Koji Nakata to seal a late comeback for the home side.