FCBayern, TOKYO
Bayern return from this year’s flying visit to Japan with only a narrow defeat to show for their efforts after partner club Urawa Red Diamonds registered a fortunate 1-0 success in Tokyo on Monday evening (local time). Masayuki Okano scored the 89th minute winning goal for the side coached by former Germany star Guido Buchwald and featuring three World Cup participants in its ranks.

A 30,000 crowd at the Saitama stadium saw an energetic first period with both sides in attacking mood. Martin Demichelis had a golden opportunity to open the scoring early on, but the Argentine spooned his chance from close range. Shortly afterwards, Teruaki Kurobe saw a curling effort rebound from the upright.

First outing for Podolski

The German champions eased into control midway through the half and created a string of presentable opportunities, but neither Lukas Podolski, appearing in a Bayern shirt for the first time, nor Roy Makaay was able to convert one of half-a-dozen decent chances.

The Reds introduced four new faces for the second half, before coach Felix Magath sent on youngster Stephan Fürstner shortly after the restart. However, the cumulative effect of the long flight and jet-lag increasingly took its toll as the match went on, and Bayern passes began to go astray with increasing regularity.

Tsuzuki bars the way

The visitors’ best openings fell to Podolski with a 57th minute header, and Bastian Schweinsteiger’s 20-metre drive seven minutes from time, but Urawa keeper Ryota Tsuzuki pulled off two fine saves. Almost inevitably, the subdued home side managed to conjure up the late winner, as the unmarked Okano slotted home from close range to seal a flattering victory.

Urawa Red Diamonds 1 Bayern 0 (H-T: 0-0)

Bayern Munich: Kahn (Rensing 46) – Salihamidzic (Fürstner 50), van Buyten, Demichelis (Karimi 46), Lahm – Hargreaves, Ottl, Dos Santos (Scholl 46), Schweinsteiger – Makaay (Santa Cruz 46), Podolski

Attendance: 30,000 (in Tokyo)

Goals: 1-0 Okano (89)

Yellow cards: Sakai / Karimi