Japan earned a 1-0 friendly victory over Ecuador courtesy of a late winner from substitute Hisato Sato.
The two World Cup finalists battled it out for 90 minutes with Zico's side deservedly coming out on top after dominating much of the encounter.
Sato grabbed his opportunity by sweeping home a cross from man of the match Alex, after Tatsuhiko Kubo had spurned several chances to break the deadlock.
Poor defending by Keisuke Tsuboi granted Ecuador's Walter Calderon an early opening that he fired over the top but Japan made most of the running.
Kubo somehow contrived to prod Alex's centre just wide when he should have scored and then headed over the bar from another inviting centre by Alex.
One moment of magic lit up the first half as Edwin Tenorio unleashed a thunderbolt of a shot from well outside the box that swerved on its way towards Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi's goal. The former Portsmouth keeper did remarkably well to tip the ferocious drive onto the bar and Japan survived the major scare.
Despite appeals from coach Zico, referee Shamsul Maidin denied Japan a penalty when Keiji Tamada was sent sprawling inside the box.
Johny Baldeon blazed over seconds after the restart but Ecuador were soon on the back foot again with Fricson George very fortunate not to receive a yellow card on two separate occasions.
Tamada was denied when clean through and Kubo also worked the goalkeeper from another Alex cross before Shinjo Ono passed up a decent opportunity to get on the scoresheet.
It all seemed to be adding up to a goalless draw until Alex once again got down the left flank, after some sloppy defending presented Japan possession, and his teasing centre was touched home by Sato.
Japan continued to press and a deflected cross bounced off the bar as they ran out 1-0 victors.
The two World Cup finalists battled it out for 90 minutes with Zico's side deservedly coming out on top after dominating much of the encounter.
Sato grabbed his opportunity by sweeping home a cross from man of the match Alex, after Tatsuhiko Kubo had spurned several chances to break the deadlock.
Poor defending by Keisuke Tsuboi granted Ecuador's Walter Calderon an early opening that he fired over the top but Japan made most of the running.
Kubo somehow contrived to prod Alex's centre just wide when he should have scored and then headed over the bar from another inviting centre by Alex.
One moment of magic lit up the first half as Edwin Tenorio unleashed a thunderbolt of a shot from well outside the box that swerved on its way towards Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi's goal. The former Portsmouth keeper did remarkably well to tip the ferocious drive onto the bar and Japan survived the major scare.
Despite appeals from coach Zico, referee Shamsul Maidin denied Japan a penalty when Keiji Tamada was sent sprawling inside the box.
Johny Baldeon blazed over seconds after the restart but Ecuador were soon on the back foot again with Fricson George very fortunate not to receive a yellow card on two separate occasions.
Tamada was denied when clean through and Kubo also worked the goalkeeper from another Alex cross before Shinjo Ono passed up a decent opportunity to get on the scoresheet.
It all seemed to be adding up to a goalless draw until Alex once again got down the left flank, after some sloppy defending presented Japan possession, and his teasing centre was touched home by Sato.
Japan continued to press and a deflected cross bounced off the bar as they ran out 1-0 victors.
