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Ito finds late breakthrough with impressive finish
McTominay denied early opener by Suzuki save on to post, Tanaka clips bar at other end as Japan dominate first half
Scotland rouse themselves after break as Robertson goes close & Hirst hits side-netting, before Japan's Mitoma fires just wide & Gunn foils Ito
First of Scotland's World Cup warm-up friendlies
FT: Scotland 0-1 Japan
Watch the moment that decided this friendly at Hampden.
A well-worked move and a tidy finish to earn victory for Fifa's 19th best ranked nation.
Watch: Junya Ito goal settles friendly at Hampden
FT: Scotland 0-1 Japan
Well, that extends Scotland's winless run in Hampden friendlies to 11 matches!
Not since March 2016 have they won one at home. Remarkable.
FT: Scotland 0-1 Japan
Billy Dodds
Former Scotland striker on BBC Sportsound
All the pressure was taken off when we qualified but we expected a bit of urgency and energy.
Japan were the better team, but there have been a couple of positives .
We struggle to find intensity and effort in friendlies and it's been flat.
FT: Scotland 0-1 Japan
James McFadden
Former Scotland forward on BBC Sportscene
I don't think it was a poor performance, it's just not been a brilliant, exciting performance.
Japan will be looking at it thinking they were OK.
There's no doubt it has to be much better when you go into the tournament, but it's not been a terrible performance.
This hasn't been poor, it just hasn't been good enough to win the game.
Scotland 0-1 Japan
Some audible boos as Scotland fall to defeat after another underwhelming display.
Image source, SNSScotland 0-1 Japan
Findlay Curtis attempts to take on his man and make something happen, but he is tackled firmly and Japan move forward.
Scotland 0-1 Japan
Three minutes added.
Scotland 0-1 Japan
James McFadden
Former Scotland forward on BBC Sportscene
I think there's been decent bits, especially at the start of the second half. There's still a lot to improve upon.
I'm not going to get carried away with a defeat in a friendly.
I'd still like to see more of an attacking threat from the side.
Scotland 0-1 Japan
Plenty of empty seats starting to appear at Hampden.
The Tartan Army haven't been served a classic, that's for sure.
Scotland 0-1 Japan
Desperate stuff from Billy Gilmour, who slices an ambitious one waaaay wide.
Scotland 0-1 Japan
Billy Dodds
Former Scotland striker on BBC Sportsound
I think Gunn is expecting it to go to his left. Ito drags it and kind of sclaffs it to Gunn's right and though he tries to keep it out, it kind of squirms over the line.
It's a poor goal to lose.
Image source, SNSScotland 0-1 Japan
James McFadden
Former Scotland forward on BBC Sportscene
It's a lovely finish, great first touch from Ito.
I'm not surprised, it's a good bit of quality and they've shown flashes of it throughout the game.
It's the speed and the little feint that catches Gunn out.
Junya Ito
That's a superb goal from Japan, who work the ball brilliantly into the Scotland box and the move is finished by Junya Ito, who manages to beat Angus Gunn after a near dummy.
Scotland heading for defeat.
Watch: Junya Ito goal sends Japan into lead
Scotland 0-0 Japan
Here comes young Findlay Curtis. What a moment for the young fella.
He's on for Tommy Conway as Anthony Ralston replaces Nathan Patterson.
Scotland 0-0 Japan
James McFadden
Former Scotland forward on BBC Sportscene
Hirst does really well to shift it on to his right foot. Maybe he's just trying to catch Suzuki out.
He does well to fashion the chance.
Scotland 0-0 Japan
So, so close for Scotland and George Hirst.
Kieran Tierney snaps into a tackle and curls a lovely ball through for Hirst, who smashes one the wrong side of the side netting.
Scotland 0-0 Japan
Amy Canavan
BBC Sport Scotland at Hampden Park
Findlay Curtis is coming on...
Scotland 0-0 Japan
Positive energy from Willie.
Didn't think I'd have said that tonight.
Scotland 0-0 Japan
Willie Miller
Former Scotland defender on BBC Sportsound
By far a better second half for Scotland with more energy, a higher line and a lot of belief, too.
The first half was just so disappointing. It lacked everything that the second half has.
Scotland 0-0 Japan
Anyone want to see a bit of Findlay Curtis?
I wouldn't mind. Something different.
Junya Ito swept home the only goal of the game late on
Scotland began their World Cup preparations with a narrow friendly defeat by Japan at Hampden as substitute Junya Ito conjured a late winner.
Back in action for the first time since November's famous win over Denmark secured their World Cup return after a 28-year absence, Scotland were unable to reach those heady heights in the first of two March friendlies.
Both teams hit the woodwork in the first half and had opportunities to break the deadlock after the break, but it was Ito who scored the decisive goal on 84 minutes.
The Genk forward burst into the Scotland box after slick passing down the left flank opened Scotland up and his low shot settled in the bottom corner despite goalkeeper Angus Gunn's best efforts.
Scotland are next in action against Ivory Coast on Tuesday at Everton's Hill Dickinson Stadium, while Japan face England at Wembley, also on Tuesday.
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Scotland's best chance of the game came with their first attack.
Napoli star Scott McTominay charged into the box to meet John McGinn's cross from the right, but was denied by an excellent save by goalkeeper Zion Suzuki, who managed to turn the shot on to the post.
Despite that bright Scotland start, it was the visitors who slowly but surely took control.
Kodai Sano shot straight at Gunn from long range and then fired too high, Yuito Suzuki could not beat the goalkeeper after driving into the box, and Ao Tanaka's first-time shot flicked the bar on its way over.
Scotland improved after half-time, forcing Japan to go long and creating chances of their own without applying the crucial final touch.
McTominay had a looping header clear the bar before forcing Suzuki into a save from a free-kick, while captain Andy Robertson stung the goalkeeper's palms following a powerful driving run.
Being a friendly, both teams made numerous changes, and as in the first half, Japan seized command as the half progressed.
Brighton's Kaoro Mitoma - off the bench for the visitors - could not hit the target after a corner broke to him on the edge of the box and fellow substitute Ito had a shot smothered by Gunn after skipping past Jack Hendry.
Ipswich striker George Hirst rippled the side-netting after replacing Lyndon Dykes, but it was Ito who popped up at the other end to settle the contest.
Hajime Moriyasu's side have lost just five of their past 40 matches since the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, while Scotland have not won a home friendly since March 2016 when they beat Denmark.
More to follow.
Manager:Steve Clarke
Formation:4 - 2 - 3 - 1
Manager:Hajime Moriyasu
Formation:3 - 4 - 2 - 1
Friendlies
All competitions
All competitions
All competitions
Scotland and Japan have met three times previously, with two of them ending goalless in 1995 and 2006 – the other was a 2-0 Japan win in October 2009. It’s the most times Scotland have faced an opponent without scoring in their history; the other countries they’ve faced without scoring are Costa Rica (2), Morocco (1) and Mexico (1).
Japan have won five of their last six matches against European nations (D1), having lost six games in a row beforehand against European teams.
Scotland have won eight of their last 12 matches (D1 L3), having only won one of their previous 16 beforehand (D5 L10).
Japan have won seven of their last 10 games in all competitions (D2 L1), including the last three in a row since a 2-2 draw with Paraguay in October 2025 in a friendly.
Scotland won their last friendly match in June 2025, beating Liechtenstein 4-0. They haven’t won consecutive friendly games since a run of four between March 2015 and March 2016. They are winless in 10 friendlies on home soil (D3 L7) since a 1-0 win over Denmark in March 2016.
Japan have scored four goals in each of their last two games against European nations (4-1 vs Germany, 4-2 vs Turkiye) – the only non-European nation to score 4+ goals in three games in a row against European teams is Brazil (3 games between 1950-52, 4 games from 1963-65).
Scott McTominay has 14 goals for Scotland, with all 14 being scoring in competitive internationals – he is yet to score in 11 friendlies. Only Robert Hamilton (15 goals in Home Nations games between 1899 and 1911) has more goals for the Scots without ever netting in a non-competitive game.
Japan’s Takefusa Kubo has assisted 16 goals in his last 25 international appearances, averaging an assist every 92 minutes in these matches. He’s also scored six goals in those 25 games, meaning he has a goal or assist every 67 minutes.
