Despite the disappointment of a missed opportunity and narrow loss, forward Musashi Suzuki was feeling positive following his senior Japan debut Friday against Colombia.

Japan manager Hajime Moriyasu picked the Consadole Sapporo striker in the starting 11 for the match at Nissan Stadium, a 1-0 loss that the Samurai Blue could have won had they not wasted a number of good opportunities.

(Musashi Suzuki)[Getty/Kyodo]

One of those came to the 25-year-old Suzuki, who got free for a close-range header off a Shoya Nakajima cross in the 37th minute but sent his shot wide of goal.

"It was definitely a chance. I should have scored," said Suzuki, who started as a lone striker in front of Moriyasu's favored attacking trio of Nakajima, Ritsu Doan and Takumi Minamino.

The Jamaican-born Suzuki, whose father is from the Caribbean nation and mother from Japan, had previously been picked for under-23 and under-21 national duties.

But this experience of stepping onto the field in the Samurai Blue jersey was like no other, the 1.85-meter forward said.

"It was so exciting," Suzuki said. "It was a really precious experience."

The forward, who can also play on the wing, has made an impressive start to the J-League season, racking up three goals and two assists in four games for first-division Consadole.

Though he lamented his missed chance on Friday, Suzuki made strong contributions both as a target man and playmaker, showing an awareness of his teammates' positioning and a willingness to throw his body into aerial challenges.

Suzuki, who grew up in Ota, Gunma Prefecture, joined Consadole at the start of the year from relegated V-Varen Nagasaki. He netted 11 goals in 29 league games for Nagasaki last year.

The attacker said going against Colombia's central defensive pairing of English Premier League center-backs Davinson Sanchez and Yerry Mina had been an eye-opening experience.

"(Sanchez) is a world-class defender. He's an incredible athlete, but also his positioning and awareness was amazing," Suzuki said.

Following the match against Colombia, Japan will meet Bolivia in another friendly on Tuesday at Noevir Stadium in Kobe. The matches are a warmup for the Copa America starting from June in Brazil.

The Samurai Blue will be participating in the South American continental tournament as an invited nation for the second time. Asian champions Qatar will also contest the June 14 to July 7 tournament as invitees.