Two goals in the closing eight minutes handed a much-changed Japan a friendly win over a similarly weakened Scotland side in Yokohama today.

Wolverhampton Wanderers defender Christophe Berra scored an own-goal after 82 minutes to break the deadlock and a side-footed effort by Keisuke Honda in the closing seconds sealed the victory. Berra was unlucky having put in an otherwise solid performance in the centre of Scotland's defence, but the second goal was more decisive, Honda killing off the game when the visitors failed to clear a low cross by substitute Yuichi Komano.

Scotland boss George Burley handed debuts to four players for a game that had been blighted in the build-up by the withdrawal of 10 players from the squad in the days leading up to the journey to Japan. Hearts defender Lee Wallace and a midfield trio of West Bromwich Albion's Graham Dorrans, Preston's Ross Wallace and Dundee United's Craig Conway were included in the starting line-up, with Stephen McManus wearing the captain's armband.

Japan coach Takeshi Okada elected not to give a debut start to Catania striker Takayuki Morimoto, who was left on the bench, but there were wholesale changes from the side that beat Hong Kong 6-0 in the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers on Thursday. Honda just missed the target with a swirling shot from 35 yards just six minutes in, while Steven Whittaker was forced into some last-ditch defending in the opening stages.

Atsuto Uchida found more space behind Scotland left-back Lee Wallace in the 17th minute after being played in by Honda but Kengo Nakamura scuffed his shot harmlessly off target. Ten minutes before the interval Nakamura sent the best chance of the half skidding into the side netting, while Naohiro Ishikawa finished tamely twice before the whistle.

Scotland were livelier after the break but it was their goalkeeper, Craig Gordon, who made the first serious save, parrying Honda's dipping free-kick in the 55th minute. Within a minute of coming on, Jubilo Iwata defender Komano played a key role in Japan's opening goal, sending in a low cross that Berra put into his own net, sticking out a leg in an attempt to stop the ball reaching Morimoto.

And with barely seconds remaining, Japan doubled their lead after the ball fell to Honda in the penalty area and the VVV Venlo midfielder side-footed home.