Honda drives Japan to win seven-goal thriller

Keisuke Honda scored twice for Japan as they beat Zambia 4-3 in a thrilling World Cup warmup in Tampa on Friday.

Zambia equalised in the 89th minute thanks to a wonderful long-range strike from Lubambo Musonda but Yoshito Okubo grabbed a dramatic injury-time winner for Alberto Zaccheroni's Brazil-bound side.

The Africans took an early lead when Christopher Katongo headed in a bouncing cross at the back post in the ninth minute and then Nathan Sinkala made it 2-0 20 minutes later with a sweet strike after a short corner.

Japan kept their cool, though, and were back in the game five minutes before the break through a Honda penalty after Emmanuel Mbola handled in the area.

Shinji Kagawa brought Japan level in the 73rd minute, cutting in from the left and delivering a cross-shot which snuck in the far post.

Two minutes later Japan were in front when Honda slid in to convert a low cross from Masato Morshige who had shown smart control and awareness to create space for himself and deliver a precise cross.

Inside the final minute of normal time, Musondo scored a remarkable solo goal to make it 3-3, picking up the ball on the left flank, cutting inside and then unleashing a wonderful drive from 30 metres out that dipped just under the bar past a helpless Shusaku Nishikawa.

But in injury time, Toshihiro Aoyama launched a long ball into the box and Okubo brought it down and fired home in one smooth movement for a beautiful winner.

Japan will face Ivory Coast, Greece and Colombia in Group C in Brazil.