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TOKYO, Aug 20 (Reuters) - Uruguay fought back after conceding a Sebastian Eguren own-goal to overcome Japan 3-1 in a friendly at the Sapporo Dome on Wednesday.
Midfielder Eguren put the ball into his own net to give Japan the lead three minutes after the break but redeemed himself by grabbing the equaliser seven minutes later.Late goals by Ignacio Gonzalez and Sebastian Abreu then secured victory for the visitors.
Both teams are warming up for World Cup qualifiers next month with Uruguay in Colombia and Japan away to Bahrain on Sept. 6 before the Uruguayans host Ecuador four days later.
Uruguay put the home side under pressure from the start in northern japan with Kengo Nakamura having to clear off the line from Carlos Valdez in the seventh minute and Japan captain Yuji Nakazawa needing to make several crucial interceptions.
On the half-hour mark, Japan right-back Yuichi Komano cut inside and unleashed a strong left-foot shot that Uruguay goalkeeper Juan Castillo did well to parry.
A minute later Nakazawa rose well to head a Shinji Ono corner narrowly over the bar but Uruguay always looked the more dangerous side and Luis Suarez and Jorge Fucile came close for the visitors shortly before halftime.Eguren inadvertently turned in Nakamura's cross to put Japan ahead just after halftime but the Uruguayan finished off a slick move from 10 metres to save his blushes.
Japan had few chances, although Ono and fellow Bundesliga player Makoto Hasebe tested Castillo, but the Uruguayans dominated the last quarter of the match.Gonzalez made it 2-1 with a free header in the 83rd minute and three minutes into injury time more poor defending from Japan allowed Abreu to make it 3-1 from 10 metres.
