Japan picked up a third consecutive victory in their final game of the year on Tuesday, beating Bolivia 3-0 in the KIRIN CHALLENGE CUP 2025.
Daichi Kamada, Shuto Machino, and Keito Nakamura all found the net for the Samurai Blue in front of 53,508 fans at Japan National Stadium, ensuring manager Hajime Moriyasu was able to celebrate his 100th match in charge in style.
Former Yokohama FC striker Koki Ogawa had Japan’s first chance in just the second minute, but after breaking in behind he was denied by Bolivia goalkeeper Guillermo Viscarra.
Kamada, previously of Sagan Tosu, swept the hosts in front just two minutes later though, chesting the ball down after a cross from ex-FC TOKYO forward Takefusa Kubo and stroking it sweetly into the far side of the net with his left foot.
Japan continued to dominate the early exchanges and almost doubled their lead in the 23rd minute, after a lightning break from back to front.
First Kubo headed the ball into Yukinari Sugawara’s path on the right flank, and then after the pair advanced and exchanged passes once more former Nagoya Grampus man Sugawara whipped a cross into the box for Ogawa, whose header was tipped onto the crossbar by Viscarra.
Takumi Minamino then went agonisingly close seconds later, as the ex-Cerezo Osaka player collected the rebound and fired a shot past the far post from the corner of the six-yard box.
Bolivia almost drew level in the 30th minute, but Fernando Nava fizzed an effort from distance just wide after seizing possession following a misplaced Kamada pass in midfield, and Miguel Terceros then curled a free-kick off target from just outside the area two minutes before half-time.
Japan struggled to click a little after the restart, but a triple substitution in the 67th minute reinvigorated the side, as ex-Kashima Antlers striker Ayase Ueda, former Shonan Bellmare centre-forward Machino, and Nakamura, once of Gamba Osaka, all entered the fray.
Just one minute later Ueda almost got his name on the scoresheet, but he couldn’t quite direct his header on target after challenging Viscarra for a cross from former G-Osaka attacker Ritsu Doan.
Shortly after that two of the substitutes did combine to put the ball in the back of the net, as Machino converted Nakamura’s cut-back at the near post in the 71st minute to make it 2-0.
Bolivia again responded well after conceding and went close to pulling a goal back in the 77th minute, but Moises Villarroel’s fierce effort from 25 yards out whistled inches wide of the target.
Nakamura then wrapped up the win with a crisp finish one minute later, checking back to make space for the shot after being teed up by fellow sub Ueda before slamming home with his right foot.
