The Japanese have done it again.

Japanese fans clean up stadium

Japan on Tuesday, June 19, became the first Asian side ever to beat a South American team at the World Cup.

The Blue Samurai downed Colombia 2-1, as the South Americans played with a man down for 86 minutes in Saransk, Russia.

After the match was over, Japanese fans in the stands were seen picking up rubbish from the stadium, a repeat of their civic-minded behaviour in World Cup 2014.

https://twitter.com/pinkys421/status/1009075725725364224

A shot panning to the Japanese fans showed them opening up the garbage bags and putting rubbish inside.

World Cup 2014 blue rubbish bags

Previously, during Japan's disappointing World Cup 2014 outing in Brazil, where they lost to Ivory Coast, drew nil-nil with Greece and got thrashed 1-4 by Colombia, the Japanese fans took their blue rubbish bags to every game and cleaned up after themselves, sometimes even before the match was over.

Pictures of their antics were splashed worldwide and earned the country praise. The Japanese then found it strange that their behaviour should earn them attention.

The blue rubbish bags even became a symbol for the Japanese fans.

In their only point earned against Greece, the Japanese were seen partying with their rubbish bags.

Match highlights

In an explosive start to the Group H clash this World Cup, Colombia defender Carlos Sanchez earned the first red card of Russia 2018 with a handball after just four minutes.

It was the second-fastest red card in World Cup finals history.

Japan took a shock lead when Shinji Kagawa netted the resulting penalty before Juan Quintero equalised with a free-kick for Colombia to make it 1-1 at half-time.

The pressure paid off as Quintero's low free-kick flew under Japan's wall and crept inside the post shortly before the first half was up. The goal was confirmed by goal-line technology.

Japan scored its 73rd-minute winner via Yuya Osako, who leapt highest from a corner and guided his header in off the post.

This result meant the Japanese avenged their 4-1 mauling in the group stages of Brazil 2014.

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Highlights here:

(Obviously Fifa has exercised its rights and got this unofficial highlight reel removed from YouTube within hours of it going up.)