Japan fight back to hold Australia in World Cup qualifying stalemate

SAITAMA – Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu was not too happy despite his side denying Australia a famous victory, after coming back to grab a 1-1 draw in World Cup qualifying in Saitama on Oct 15.

Australia had never beaten Japan on Japanese soil but a Shogo Taniguchi own goal just before the hour mark gave the visitors a shock lead in front of a crowd of nearly 60,000 fans.

Cameron Burgess scored a Socceroos own goal at the other end 18 minutes later to hand Japan an equaliser that keeps them on top of Group C on 10 points from four games.

Australia moved to five points, having taken one win and one draw in two games since coach Tony Popovic replaced Graham Arnold in September.

“To be honest, I wanted to win at home. I wanted to deliver a victory because so many supporters came to the stadium and many supporters were cheering for us in front of the TV,” Moriyasu said.

“However, the fact that we were able to fight without collapsing after conceding the first goal... I think that the fact that we were able to gain one more point without giving up... is a step forward.”

Japan went into the game with a perfect record of three wins, with 14 goals scored and none conceded at this stage of qualifying.

The draw ends their run of consecutive wins in World Cup qualifying at nine.

Australia’s preparations, meanwhile, were hampered when they arrived at Saitama Stadium later than scheduled after their team bus got stuck in traffic.

Popovic handed a first cap to 34-year-old Luke Brattan, who started alongside captain Jackson Irvine in midfield. Brattan was one of six changes to the line-up that beat China 3-1 at home last week in Popovic’s first game in charge.

Liverpool’s Wataru Endo was missing from Japan’s squad and was replaced as captain by fellow midfielder Ao Tanaka.

Takefusa Kubo gave Australia problems down the right wing and he hit the side-netting after a dangerous move in the sixth minute.

Japan dominated possession but struggled to create clear-cut chances for the rest of the first half, with a deflected Kaoru Mitoma shot their best effort.

Takumi Minamino headed wide at the back post as Japan started the second half with the same attacking intent.

But Australia took a shock lead when Sint-Truiden defender Taniguchi turned Lewis Miller’s cross into his own net on 58 minutes.

Burgess suffered the same fate for Australia soon after, when he redirected substitute Keito Nakamura’s cross into his own goal.

Nakamura and fellow substitute Junya Ito pushed hard in search of a late winner but Australia held firm to claim the point.

The Socceroos’ last victory over Japan was in 2009 in Melbourne.

“I’m very proud of that performance – the calmness and composure that we showed in defence. It’s a top foundation for us to move forward,” Australia skipper Irvine said.

When asked about the debacle getting to the stadium and the arrival only 35 minutes before kick-off, he replied: “It is what it is, when circumstances are out of your control.

“I can’t speak highly enough of all our staff for the way they prepare us. They gave us the best opportunity to perform tonight, and we did that.”

In another Group C match, Indonesia’s unbeaten start to this stage of qualifying ended at Qingdao Youth Football Stadium with a 2-1 away defeat by China.

First-half goals by Behram Abduweli and Zhang Yuning gave the Chinese the first points of the campaign, despite a late goal by Indonesia substitute Thom Haye.

Both teams are on three points but the Indonesians sit one spot above cellar-dwellers China on goal difference in the six-team group.

In Group B, South Korea won a top-of-the-table clash with Iraq 3-2 at Yongin Citizen Sports Park with Oh Hyeon-gyu and Lee Jae-sung scoring in the final 16 minutes. AFP, REUTERS