Keito Nakamura dribbled his way past the New Caledonia defence from the right to score for Japan in the seventh minute for his fourth goal in three matches.
Kolkata: East Asian powerhouse Japan were held to a 1-1 draw by a spirited New Caledonia but scraped through to the pre-quarterfinals from Group E in the FIFA Under-17 World Cup match on Saturday.
Keito Nakamura dribbled his way past the New Caledonia defence from the right to score for Japan in the seventh minute for his fourth goal in three matches.
It looked like a walk in the park for the Japanese who toyed the U-17 World Cup debutants. But it was not to be and Japan survived a second-half scare with New Caledonia making some incisive second-half raids.
That led to the equaliser by captain Jekob Jeno who scored in the 83rd minute to earn a historic point for New Caledonia in their first U-17 World Cup appearance.
It was also the second U-17 World Cup goal for New Caledonia who scored their first goal of the tournament through Sidri Wadenges in their 1-7 defeat against France.
The draw, however, was enough for the ‘Blue Samurai’ juniors to seal a fourth pre-quarterfinal, for the first time since Mexico-2013 – in their eighth U-17 World Cup appearances.
Japan finished second behind France (nine points) with four points in Group E.
