An own goal at each end of the pitch has handed the Socceroos a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Japan in Saitama.
Japan defender Shogo Taniguchi turned a Lewis Miller cross into his own net on 58 minutes to give the Socceroos the lead without having had a single shot on target in the whole match — and just one attempt full stop.
However, as Japan turned up the pressure, backed by over 63,700 spectators, Cameron Burgess powered the ball past Joe Gauci to level the scores in the 76th minute thanks to a devilish cross from livewire winger Keito Nakamura.
Although the Socceroos professed some disappointment over the manner of the goal they conceded, defender Harry Souttar said it was a “good point” on the road.
The Socceroos have never beaten the Blue Samurai in Japan, and it appeared all the cards were stacked against them even before kick off, when a traffic jam meant the Socceroos were stuck on the team coach for over two hours, arriving at the ground with barely half an hour to go before kick off.
Japan officials asked the match commissioner to delay kick off, but that request was denied.
“It is what it is,” Socceroos captain Jackson Irvine said.
“When circumstances are out of your control, it’s simple, You just have to go and do it.
“The boys rolled their sleeves up.”
Despite the frantic start and the disruption of six changes made by TOny Popovic to his starting line up, Australia started well, matching Japan early and looking to play the ball as much as possible.
Jordan Bos made a lively run in the first half. (Getty Images: Kenta Harada)
However, it soon became apparent that Japan were too fast and precise on the ball, pegging the Aussies back with dangerous runs from wingers Takumi Minamino and Takefusa Kubo.
However, despite the trickery on display from the home wide men, Australia’s five-man defence nullified any Japanese raids and ensured that any shots on goal were comfortable handled by Joe Gauci.
The second half followed much the same pattern, Japan blowing their best chance of the game as Minamino headed Kubo’s cross wide.
It was to prove costly, as moments later the Socceroos took a hugely unlikely lead thanks to Taniguchi’s muddled attempt at clearing Millar’s low cross.
The Socceroos took an unlikely lead without even managing a shot on goal. (AP Photo: Eugene Hoshiko)
The few Socceroos supporters in the stands were delirious — Australia had never won a single game against Japan in Japan, while the hosts were unbeaten in Saitama in eight years.
However, it was too good to be true as Burgess was left powerless to do anything other than power another wicked cross from Nakamura into his own net.
Japan continued to press, but the Socceroos held firm to win a valuable point on the road and maintain new coach Popovic’s unbeaten start as Socceroos coach.
“It was wonderful character in the group,” Popvic told Paramount Plus.
“We’re happy with the result, of course. But we want to expect more.
“We tried to play … [but] they win the ball back quickly. This was a huge test, but they hung in their the whole time. We were very resolute at the back.
“We’ll reflect on a good October window. In November, we want to play better.”
The Socceroos will next take on Saudi Arabia in Melbourne on November 14, followed by a trip to Bahrain on November 20.
Look back on how all the action unfolded in our live blog.
Key Events
Live updates: Japan vs Socceroos
Popovic hails ‘resolute’ Socceroos
Tony Popovic is speaking now.
“We had the lead and unfortunately it was an own goal in the end,” he says.
“It was wonderful character in the group
“We’re happy with the result, of course. But we want to expect more.
“We tried to play. They win the ball back quickly. This was a huge test, but they hung in their the whole time. We were very resolute at the back.
“We’ll reflect on a good October window. In November, we want to play better.”
Souttar praises ‘brave’ Socceroos
Harry Souttar is speaking to Paramount now.
“It was a tough evening,” the giant defender said.
“I thought the way we tried to play was really brave. We were brave to play, brave off the ball
“Look, we got a little bit lucky with the goal, but so did they.
“It’s a good point.”
He then says that he’s a bit disappointed with the point, feeling perhaps the Socceroos could have won the game.
“We look forward to the November games,” he says.
Souttar says the Socceroos played music on the bus and that the delay did not affect them.
“That’s one of these things. The boys were fine, we played music on the bus, we were confident coming into the game.
“We’re not gunna use that as an excuse. We started the game pretty well.”
Your thoughts
Actually a great result for Australia. To take a point away from Japan in Japan, especially after leading earlier in the match, lots to work with. The must-win match will be Saudi Arabia though…
– Josh
Can’t complain about coming away with a point
– Luke
Fantastic result. This is as good as we could hope for.
– Pete
Good result. Sounds like Gauci was man of the match for us.
– Richard
Gauci had a blinder! My man of the match (Sorry Matt)
– Mike
Jackson Irvine: ‘The boys rolled their sleeves up’
Socceroos captain Jackson Irvine is speaking post-match.
He says that the difficult moments are when the Socceroos stand up.
“That’s when this team seems to thrive,” he says.
“In the most difficult moments we stand up, no excuses.
“I’m very proud of the team.
“We defended well in the hard moments, until the very last ball.”
Of course, the drama pre-match surrounded the Socceroos late arrival to the stadium.
The did not impact Irvine though.
“It is what it is,” he says.
“When circumstances are out of your control, it’s simple, You just have to go and do it.
“The boys rolled their sleeves up.”
He praises the backroom staff for getting them into the best frame of mind, saying he can’t speak higher of them.
He also got a little bit chocked up when speaking about what being skipper meant to him.
Full time: Socceroos draw with Japan
There was a brief promise of more.
Would it have been deserved? Hard to say.
Well, not that hard.
The Socceroos had one shot, none on target, and just 34 per cent possession.
However, they came within 15 minutes of a first ever victory in Japan against the Blue Samurai.
Japan huffed with their 12 shots, but the fact they only managed three on target suggests they didn’t really puff as much as the 63,000 home supporters would have expected.
All in all, the Socceroos would be very happy with that, especially given all the drama pre game, where the team were stuck in traffic for two hours and only arrived at the stadium 45 minutes before kick off.
90+5′ Chance Japan!
Souttar heads the ball over his own crossbar. as Japan really press for a winner, roared on by this 63,700-strong crowd.
The corner is swept in and Gauci takes a great grab.
90+4′ Burgess booked
Mitoma was on the charge, so Burgess felled him.
90+1′ Five minutes to be added at the end of the match
Time enough for a winner, for someone…
89′ Goodwin booked
A robust challenge from Goodwin.
That’s his second booking of this phase of qualifying so he will miss the match in Melbourne against Saudi Arabia.
88′ Craig Goodwin is on
Goodwin replaces Lewis Miller.
87′ Two chances for Japan
Ito is electric. He is invigorating this game with some brilliant runs.
First he goes diagonally across the field, linking up with Nakamura, but his ball inside is scrappily cleared by the Socceroos.
The danger is not passed though, and Ito is the target for the next ball too before a foul releases the pressure on the Aussies.
84′ Good stop Gauci!
Nakamura is on the rampage!
That’s a terrific run from the left winger, racing towards the penalty area, swinging in a cross towards the new man Ogawa, but Gauci dives out and stops the ball.
He had to be perfect there, the Aussie keeper.
And he was.
83′ Japan makes a change
Striker Kogi Ogawa comes into the fray in place of Ueda.
82′ Socceroos change
Lewis Miller goes off, looking like he’s got a sore hamstring.
That’s hardly surprising. He’s been tested all night and barely had 20 minutes to warm up after the Socceroos were delayed in traffic coming to the ground.
Keanu Baccus is his replacement.
80′ Patrick Yazbek is booked
Patrick Yazbekis booked, but the Socceroos are angry because they feel that Riley McGree was fouled first.
They have a point too.
78′ Chances Japan
Mitoma now.
He picks up the ball on the left side and races towards the edge of the penalty area, cuts inside and sees a shot deflected behind for a corner.
Ito swings the corner in and the blue wave of shirts rises to meet it, but Souttar hammers it away.
Not far enough – Ito comes again, swinging in an awkward cross towards the back post and its gathered by Gauci.
76′ Goal Japan!
It’s an own goal!
Keito Nakamura with all the tricks down the left side, a wicked cross once he got to the byline, and then a heartbreaking moment for Ipswich’s Cameron Burgess.
There was little the Tractor boy could do about it – the ball came in at such pace and all he could do was stick a foot at it and the ball flew off his boot into the net.
74′ Gauci has to punch the ball clear
A corner for Japan from the left side of the pitch, swung in and punched with interest by Gauci.
Japan keeps possession but the cry of anguish tells us that the hosts cannot find a final pass and it foes away for a goalkick.
72′ Mitch Duke is down
He is going off, in fact., just limping off.
And so is Jordan Bos – a wise decision from Tony Popovic.
Aziz Behich comes on as a like-for-like replacement, and Nishan Velupillay is also on.
