Japan's Yoshito Okubo shoots during the group C World Cup soccer match between Japan and Colombia at the Arena Pantanal in Cuiaba, Brazil, Tuesday, June 24, 2014. At right is Colombia's Fredy Guarin.(AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa) (The Associated Press)
CUIABA, Brazil – Shinji Okazaki gave Japan hope of advancing at the World Cup with an injury-time equalizer to get his team level at 1-1 with Colombia at halftime in their Group C match on Tuesday.
Already assured of advancing, Colombia was heading for a third straight victory after Juan Cuadrado drilled his 17th-minute spot kick down the middle following Yasuyuki Konno's trip on Adrian Ramos.
Japan needed a win to stand any chance of overhauling second-place Ivory Coast but was let down by its finishing after good build-up play, until Okazaki's close-range header in the last seconds of the half.
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