<p class="title">Two goals from Koji Miyoshi helped Japan secure a hard-earned point in a 2-2 draw with Uruguay at the Copa America on Thursday.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Miyoshi twice fired Japan into the lead only for Uruguay to level through a controversial penalty from Luis Suarez and a second-half header from Jose Gimenez.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The draw means Japan have an outside chance of reaching the quarter-finals from Group C, with one game remaining against Ecuador.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Uruguay, who trounced Ecuador in their opening game, missed the chance to make certain of their place in the last eight against a Japan team who had been trounced 4-0 by Chile in their opening game.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Japan had been let down by poor finishing in their defeat to Chile, but were a different proposition at the Arena do Gremio as coach Hajime Moriyasu range the changes in his starting line-up.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Former Leicester City striker Shinji Okazaki started alongside Hiroki Abe up front as Moriyasu relegated Ayase Ueda and Takefusa Kubo to the bench.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Miyoshi meanwhile provided attacking thrust in a new-look Japanese midfield.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Abe created a half-chance on 10 minutes but Okazaki was unable to control his attempted header and flashed his effort high and wide.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Uruguay meanwhile always looked threatening going forward, with the strikeforce of Edinson Cavani and Luis Suarez causing problems for the Japanese back four.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Cavani almost created the opening goal for Suarez in the 12th minute, working a one-two with Diego Godin before crossing for Suarez.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The Barcelona star however could only direct his chance at goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima, who gathered safely.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Naomichi Ueda then had a half-chance for Japan at the other end but his glancing header from a free-kick was easily saved.</p>.<p class="bodytext">With Uruguay's defence looking uncharacteristically vulnerable, Japan took the lead on 25 minutes when a long diagonal pass from Gaku Shibasaki sent Miyoshi racing clear.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The 22-year-old Yokohama F. Marinos midfielder still had plenty to do, but ghosted to the byline before smashing into the roof of the net from a tight angle.</p>.<p class="bodytext">But Japan's joy was short-lived as Uruguay were gifted an equaliser with a VAR-assisted penalty four minutes later.</p>.<p class="bodytext">There appeared to be no question of a foul after Cavani and Ueda came together in the penalty area with the Uruguayan striker stretching to reach a pass.</p>.<p class="bodytext">But VAR ruled that Ueda had fouled Cavani prompting Colombian referee Andres Rojas to point to the spot.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Suarez stepped up to convert and Uruguay were level.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Cavani almost gave Uruguay the lead in the 36th minute with 25-yard rocket that crashed off the bar but Japan reached the break level.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The second half saw Uruguay gradually get on top but yet another incisive break from Japan led to Miyoshi grabbing his second to make it 2-1 in the 59th minute.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Again though Uruguay were quick to respond, Gimenez heading in Nicolas Lodeiro's cross in the 66th minute to make it 2-2.</p>
<p class="title">Two goals from Koji Miyoshi helped Japan secure a hard-earned point in a 2-2 draw with Uruguay at the Copa America on Thursday.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Miyoshi twice fired Japan into the lead only for Uruguay to level through a controversial penalty from Luis Suarez and a second-half header from Jose Gimenez.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The draw means Japan have an outside chance of reaching the quarter-finals from Group C, with one game remaining against Ecuador.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Uruguay, who trounced Ecuador in their opening game, missed the chance to make certain of their place in the last eight against a Japan team who had been trounced 4-0 by Chile in their opening game.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Japan had been let down by poor finishing in their defeat to Chile, but were a different proposition at the Arena do Gremio as coach Hajime Moriyasu range the changes in his starting line-up.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Former Leicester City striker Shinji Okazaki started alongside Hiroki Abe up front as Moriyasu relegated Ayase Ueda and Takefusa Kubo to the bench.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Miyoshi meanwhile provided attacking thrust in a new-look Japanese midfield.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Abe created a half-chance on 10 minutes but Okazaki was unable to control his attempted header and flashed his effort high and wide.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Uruguay meanwhile always looked threatening going forward, with the strikeforce of Edinson Cavani and Luis Suarez causing problems for the Japanese back four.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Cavani almost created the opening goal for Suarez in the 12th minute, working a one-two with Diego Godin before crossing for Suarez.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The Barcelona star however could only direct his chance at goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima, who gathered safely.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Naomichi Ueda then had a half-chance for Japan at the other end but his glancing header from a free-kick was easily saved.</p>.<p class="bodytext">With Uruguay's defence looking uncharacteristically vulnerable, Japan took the lead on 25 minutes when a long diagonal pass from Gaku Shibasaki sent Miyoshi racing clear.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The 22-year-old Yokohama F. Marinos midfielder still had plenty to do, but ghosted to the byline before smashing into the roof of the net from a tight angle.</p>.<p class="bodytext">But Japan's joy was short-lived as Uruguay were gifted an equaliser with a VAR-assisted penalty four minutes later.</p>.<p class="bodytext">There appeared to be no question of a foul after Cavani and Ueda came together in the penalty area with the Uruguayan striker stretching to reach a pass.</p>.<p class="bodytext">But VAR ruled that Ueda had fouled Cavani prompting Colombian referee Andres Rojas to point to the spot.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Suarez stepped up to convert and Uruguay were level.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Cavani almost gave Uruguay the lead in the 36th minute with 25-yard rocket that crashed off the bar but Japan reached the break level.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The second half saw Uruguay gradually get on top but yet another incisive break from Japan led to Miyoshi grabbing his second to make it 2-1 in the 59th minute.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Again though Uruguay were quick to respond, Gimenez heading in Nicolas Lodeiro's cross in the 66th minute to make it 2-2.</p>