Borussia Dortmund head coach Niko Kovac appeared content with his side after wrapping up their BVB Evonik Japan Tour on Sunday with a narrow 1-0 win over FC Tokyo.
Fabio Silva scored the only goal of the game in the 54th minute as the Black and Yellow recovered from the opening day loss to Cerezo Osaka.
As many of their national team players returned to the XI, the side looked more dangerous going forward, creating more chances and keeping their hosts on the backfoot.
However, the final product was still lacking although the stormy weather in Tokyo - the stadium was drenched in rains - could have played a part here too.
The Bundesliga side now returns home and will start their preparations for another epic pre-season showdown with Premier League champions Arsenal next weekend.
Despite scoring just one goal in 180 minutes of action, head coach Kovac appeared content with his side's performance, labeling their Japan tour a 'success'.
"“It’s always nice to win the last game before heading home. The entire week was a success. We got a lot done. We don’t have all our players here yet, but you could see today – especially in the first half – that the quality is on a whole different level with the lads who were on the field. The first half was really good. We created three or four good chances but didn’t capitalize on them.""he told the press after the match
Indeed, the BVB missed a flurry of chances in a wasteful opening stanza. Silva's effort was narrowly saved by Seung-gyu Kim while Felix Nmecha curled a free-kick narrowly wide off the post.
After the match resumed following a weather-enforced suspension, Samuele Inacio, Maximilian Beier and Takato Yamamoto all came close but their chances went begging as the scoreline remained deadlocked at 0-0.
Silva finally broke Tokyo's resistance early in the second half by brilliantly controlling a looping cross from Daniel Svensson with his head and then making a quick turn to fire a shot into the bottom corner beyond Seung-gyu.
Kovac further added that heavy rainfall in Tokyo - and its after effects - prevented the side from playing to their best on Sunday.
""Conditions were difficult today, especially after the downpour. Then steam rises from the ground and it’s hard to breathe. I know what the lads accomplished today.""
Borussia Dortmund continue their preseason against Arsenal in the Emirates Cup in London on Sunday, 9 August.
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