The Socceroos have effectively punched their ticket to the 2026 FIFA World Cup after an Aziz Behich stunner in the 90th minute lifted them to a 1-0 win over Japan at a sold-out Optus Stadium.
In front of 57,226 fans on Thursday night, Australia looked disjointed and uninspiring throughout the match before Behich popped up for the winner in what was his first international goal in 13 years.
Riley McGree’s angled cut back rolled tantalisingly untouched in the box, and Behich ran back and unleashed a right-foot strike while spinning his body to send the ball flying in for a goal.
Socceroos coach Tony Popovic exploded with emotion on the bench when the goal went in, with a flare set off in the crowd to mark the moment.
The result means the Socceroos (16 points, +8 goal difference) will lock in the second automatic World Cup qualifying spot from their group — barring a crazy big loss to Saudi Arabia in Jeddah next Tuesday.
– Live AFC World Cup qualifying group standings
Saudi Arabia (10 points, -2 goal difference) need to beat lowly Bahrain overnight to stay in the hunt to leapfrog the Socceroos. Thursday’s result marked Australia’s first win over Japan since 2009.
Japan (20 points) entered Thursday night’s match under no pressure to perform given they had already qualified for the World Cup as the winners of their group.
Regulars such as Kaoru Mitoma, Daizen Maida, Reo Hatate, Takumi Minamino, Ritsu Doan, Junya Ito and Hidemasa Morita didn’t even make the trip to Australia, while stars Wataru Endo, Takefusa Kubo and goalkeeper Zion Suzuki were named on the bench.
Japan named three debutants in their starting XI as well as six other players with four or fewer international caps to their name.
Australia looked like they had stage fright in the first half, with basic errors and bad decision-making regularly plaguing them.
Japan enjoyed 70% possession for the half, and they gave the Socceroos a big scare in the 28th minute when Yuito Suzuki surged forward and sent his shot just wide.
A goalkeeping error from Japan in the 48th minute gave Behich a sniff that he wasn’t able to take advantage of. But he made no mistake in the 90th minute, burying his chance to send the crowd into raptures.
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