Japan's players were quick to turn their focus to their next World Cup group-stage contest following a surprise 2-1 win over a 10-man Colombia on Tuesday.

The victory in Saransk was a remarkable turnaround from the previous match between the two sides, when a rampaging Colombian team ran out 4-1 winners at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Tuesday's win was also a long time coming for the Samurai Blue, who were eliminated from the previous tournament after failing to triumph in any of their three group-stage matches.

"It has been such a long time since we won our last World Cup game. We have achieved one objective now and the second game will be crucial to our chances of reaching the knockout phase," defender Maya Yoshida said.

"We need to be even hungrier and show the world what we are capable of doing."

(Yoshida (C) superbly marshaled Japan's defense against the Colombians) 

According to playmaker Keisuke Honda, who set up Yuya Osako's winner after coming on as a 69th-minute substitute, the match showed that the Samurai Blue still have room for improvement ahead of their next Group H match, against Senegal in Ekaterinburg on Sunday.

"Looking at the result you have to be satisfied with it, but I don't feel it was an especially good performance," Honda said. "But I am really glad I was able to do my job and be involved in the winning goal."

After Carlos Sanchez was shown a red card for a deliberate handball in the third minute, Japan went a goal and a man ahead when Shinji Kagawa converted the ensuing penalty.

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The Colombians nevertheless forced the Samurai Blue to spend much of the match on the back foot, drawing level when a questionable free kick award led to Juan Quintero's 39th-minute goal.

After Osako put Japan 2-1 up with his 73rd-minute header, the Colombians once again turned up the intensity as they fought for an equalizer, forcing Japan to defend until the final whistle.

"It was tough right until the end but everyone fought to defend the lead and we were able to get the right result," goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima said.

"We had talked about how important the first game would be and we can draw real confidence from this result."

(Yuto Nagatomo (L) worked tirelessly down the left flank)

A full-team effort was needed to contain the high-octane Colombian attack, even when they were reduced to 10 men, according to left back Yuto Nagatomo.

"Our attackers also dug in defensively and we got this result as a group effort. We were focused and defended well against the world's top players," Nagatomo said.

Following their match against Senegal, who opened with a 2-1 win over Poland, Japan will play their final first-phase fixture against pre-tournament Group H favorites Poland in Volgograd on June 28.