CORDOBA, Spain -- Substitute midfielder Ruben Baraja scored in injury time Wednesday to give the home team a 1-0 win and deny Japan a draw in a friendly international with Spain at Cordoba's Arcangel Stadium.
Pedro Munitis intercepted a short clearance from Kashima Antlers defender Koji Nakata in the 91st minute and the Real Madrid midfielder moved the ball quickly into the path of Baraja, who fired off a first-time shot from the edge of the box past Japan goalkeeper Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi. The home fans among the crowd of 15,500 rose as one to celebrate the winner.
"We should have had the draw," Jubilo's Toshihiro Hattori lamented. "But we gave up a late goal and that was the difference between the two sides."