A stoppage-time Hana Takahashi penalty rescued a 1-1 draw for Riko Ueki’s Japan in their home friendly against Manuela Paví’s Colombia early on Sunday morning.
The two teams had previously faced off as recently as February, when Japan ran out 4-1 winners en route to SheBelieves Cup glory, but the hosts wasted a great opportunity to go ahead this time around when Yuka Momiki’s spot-kick was saved by Katherine Tapia just after the half-hour mark.
Indeed, it was the travelling Colombians who struck first in Osaka, just a few moments later, with Paví - who featured from the start and went on to complete the full 90 minutes - helping work up a crossing chance on the right, that Karla Torres expertly finished off with her head.
Ueki was introduced to the action as a half-time substitute, as Japan went in search of an equaliser, and within six minutes she had teed up Momiki for a neat lobbed goal, only for it to be ruled out for offside.
Japan continued to pile on the pressure, and hit the post through Manaka Matsukubo, but it looked like they were set to be denied a share of the spoils until Catalina Usme was penalised for handball in the box, in the second minute of added time, following a mistake by goalkeeper Tapia.
Takahashi duly stepped up and sent her penalty straight down the middle of the goal to ensure the entertaining clash finished all-square.
Elsewhere, young forward Princess Ademiluyi was an unused substitute as England U19s all-but confirmed qualification for this summer’s 2025 UEFA Women’s Under-19 Championship with a thumping 5-1 win over Austria at St George's Park on Saturday afternoon.
The 18-year-old had featured in the 6-0 triumph over Belgium earlier in this international window, that had put Lauren Smith’s side in a commanding position in second-round qualifying Group A3, and this latest result leaves them three points clear with a significantly superior goal difference in the one and only qualification spot, with one round of games remaining.
Ava Baker, Mari Ward, Vivienne Lia, Michelle Agyemang and Jessie Gale all got on the scoresheet for England, while Sarah Gutmann notched the consolation for Austria. Ademiluyi are her teammates next take on Ukraine at 2pm BST on Monday, knowing a draw will guarantee their place at the finals in Poland in June.
On Sunday, Anouk Denton started and played the full 90 minutes as England U23s came from a goal down to beat their Belgian counterparts in Spain.
Club YLA striker Davinia Vanmechelen put Belgium ahead inside three minutes, but England were ahead before the midway point of the first half as Aston Villa's Missy Bo Kearns equalised, then London City Lionesses forward Isobel Goodwin headed the Young Lionesses in front.
Kearns saw a second-half penalty saved and Belgium hit the crossbar in added-time, but Emma Coates' side held out to win 2-1.
