Japan lost 2-1 to Canada in its final warm-up friendly before the World Cup in Qatar, conceding a decisive penalty to the North Americans in injury time at Dubai's Al-Maktoum Stadium on Thursday.
Moments after missing a chance to be the hero when he hit the post on a counterattack, second-half substitute Miki Yamane became the villain when he tripped Mark-Anthony Kaye in the box, enabling Lucas Cavallini to slot the winner from the spot in the 95th minute.
Nagoya Grampus winger Yuki Soma gave the Samurai Blue the lead with his athletic effort in the eighth minute, leaping through air to volley home a ball over the top from Gaku Shibasaki.