The match made World Cup history when Farid Mondragan beat Roger Milla's record as the oldest player at any finals tournament. The goalkeeper came on as a substitute for the last six minutes at the age of 43 years and three days.
Colombia already had the game sealed.
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Portuguese referee Pedro Proenca pointed to the spot and Fiorentina striker Juan Cuadrado confidently fired the kick past Japanese goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima.
Japan had chances.
AC Milan's Keisuke Honda curled a left-footed free kick over the wall but the ball went just wide of the Colombian goal.
German-based striker Shinji Okazaki tried an overhead kick after 35 minutes but his effort went spectacularly high. However, he met with better fortune in time added on in the first-half with a fine diving header.
After 55 minutes, substitute Rodriguez found Martinez in space on the edge of the penalty area and the Porto striker powered a low angled shot into the corner.
Even then, Japan did not give up. Honda fired a powerful long range free kick at Colombia goalkeeper David Ospina. Defender Yasuyuki Konno also beat the Colombia defence with a shot from the edge of the area that Ospina covered.
But Martinez added a second and Rodriguez tormented the Japanese defence before chipping the ball over Kawashima to seal victory.
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