With many new faces, few references, and an interim coach. That's how the Uruguayan national team took to the field at the New National Stadium in Tokyo to face their counterpart from Japan. The Celeste showed various changes compared to the team that participated in Qatar 2022 and, finally, obtained a 1-1 draw in the international friendly match corresponding to the FIFA date.
The Uruguayan team, led on this double matchday by Marcelo Broli, started a new cycle, seeking to forget the elimination in the group stage of the World Cup, and did so without their most important references: Luis Suárez, Edinson Cavani, and Diego Godín. Darwin Núñez, Giorgian de Arrascaeta, and Rodrigo Bentancurt were also absent.
The lack of familiarity among the group was evident during the first half of the match, in which the home team showed more incisiveness, while the visitors only showed flashes of individual skill from Diego Rossi, Facundo Pellistri, or Federico Valverde. Precisely, it was Valverde who, in an isolated play, opened the scoring.
In the 38th minute of the match, the 24-year-old midfielder took a shot from outside the box. His shot hit the crossbar but he took advantage of the rebound and, with a header, put Uruguay ahead 1-0. With a more free style of play, in a sort of pivot role, the 'Hawk' showed that he is much more effective. That's how he performed during the second half, in which the South American team tried to attack with closer lines, but was countered by the opponent's speed.
In the 65th minute, after a VAR review, the referee overturned a penalty in favor of Japan that he had initially awarded after an apparent foul by Uruguayan defender Santiago Bueno. However, it would not be until 10 minutes later that, through substitute Takuma Nishimura, the well-deserved equalizer would come.
Taking advantage of the passiveness of the defense, the 26-year-old forward shot at Sergio Rochet's goal and managed to seal the match. However, it would not be the last chance. In the 84th minute, Facundo Torres hit a shot against the crossbar.