Striker Ayase Ueda bagged his long-awaited maiden international goal Thursday as Japan romped to a 6-0 friendly victory over a visiting El Salvador side reduced to 10 men after just three minutes.
The lopsided result at Central Japan's Toyota Stadium marked the first win for Hajime Moriyasu's men since last year's Qatar World Cup and followed a draw and a loss in a pair of March friendlies on home soil.
Scottish Premiership-winning Celtic duo Reo Hatate and Kyogo Furuhashi returned to national duty for the first time since their controversial omissions from the World Cup squad. Hatate started in midfield, while Furuhashi came off the bench in the second half.
Ueda put the hosts up 2-0 from the spot after being on the receiving end of a crash tackle in the box that earned El Salvador defender Ronald Rodriguez an early shower.
The 24-year-old Cercle Brugge attacker, who made his international debut under Moriyasu at the 2019 Copa America, was joined by Shogo Taniguchi and Keito Nakamura in notching their first Samurai Blue goals.
Taniguchi gave the hosts the lead in the opening minute when he rose high to head in Takefusa Kubo's free kick from the left.
Kubo spurned a pair of chances before curling in Japan's third with an assist from Kaoru Mitoma, who pounced on a wayward pass near the El Salvador area.
The Brighton winger was unable to get his own shot past the fingertips of El Salvador keeper Mario Gonzalez late in the half, but Ritsu Doan was there to poke the ball over the line and give the hosts a 4-0 lead at the break.
Ueda had a goal waved off for offside before Nakamura, who debuted as a late substitute against Uruguay in March, made it 5-0 in the 60th minute.
Scottish Premiership Player of the Year Furuhashi came off the bench in the 65th minute and headed the final goal eight minutes later.
