Netherlands midfielder Rafael van der Vaart has admitted that Japan deserved to win today's international friendly at the Cristal Arena in Genk.
The Hamburger SV midfielder scored the opening goal of the game in the 12th minute and Arjen Robben doubled Oranje's lead before half time.
However, Alberto Zaccheroni's men roared back in the second half with goals from Yuya Osako and Keisuke Honda.
"In the end we got away with a fright," Reuters quotes the former Tottenham Hotspur star as saying.
"In the second half it went really bad. It's a pity but it goes like that every now and then. On the basis of the second half, maybe Japan deserved a win.
"I think it's a team that is perhaps a little underestimated but they have a few top players who really know how to play."
The Netherlands take on Colombia in Amsterdam on Tuesday, while at the same time Japan will pitch up in Brussels to face Belgium.
Michael Penkman
