England

2-1

Japan

Anderton 48

 

Ihara 62

Platt 87 (pen)

 

Umbro International Cup
03 June 1995
Wembley

At a rain-sodden Wembley, England took on Japan in the opening match of the 1995 Umbro Cup.

Terry Venables introduced some fresh new talent in Gary Neville, John Scales and David Unsworth as well as Stan Collymore, who all made their debuts in an experimental line-up.

There was a chance of an early England goal, on seven minutes, which would have settled the nerves as the newcomers attempted to find their international feet. Alan Shearer broke clear of the Japanese defence but the kind of opportunity he had gobbled up regularly in the Premiership was fired straight at the 'keeper's legs.

Peter Beardsley's clever toe-poked cross from the left after 22 minutes was headed over the top by Collymore in the last English move of quality in what was a disappointing first half.

The Japanese were growing in confidence, having kept the score goalless for so long, when a breakthrough came fro the home side three minutes into the second period.

Shearer played a short pass through a Japanese defender's legs on the edge of the box, leaving Darren Anderton with a clear shot at goal, and his left-footer took a deflection to beat Maekawa's dive.

But that goal was by no means the end of the Japanese challenge. Miura, who had spent the season in Italy with Genoa, slanted in a near-post corner from the left and Japanese captain Ihara got in front of Unsworth to divert the ball into the far corner of the goal with a flick of the head.

Almost immediately Miura was sprinting through to clip the outside of the post with England 'keeper Tim Flowers beaten. Then visions of an embarrassing defeat were dispelled by an England winner with a couple of minutes left.

Ihara handled Scales' bouncing volley on the goal-line for a red card and David Platt converted the penalty for his 25th England goal.

Team Details

England: Flowers, G Neville, Pearce, Batty (Gascoigne, 68), Scales, Unsworth, Platt, Beardsley (McManaman, 68), Shearer, Collymore (Sheringham, 76), Anderton

Japan: Maekawa, Tasaka, Hashiratani, Ihara, Narahashi, Morishima (Fukuda, 81), Yamaguchi, Kitazawa, Soma (Yanagimoto, 74), Miura, Nakayama (Kurosaki, 65)

Referee: Jaap Uilenberg (holland)

Attendance: 21142