The Socceroo’s returned from a drama-filled World Cup qualifier in Saitama on Tuesday night with a gritty 1-all draw against Japan. Drama preceded and dominated the action on the pitch, keeping the fans and commentators frustrated with the preamble, but when the game ensued, Australia proved resilient. The team, which has not won against Japan since 2009, remains in the running for qualification into the World Cup.
Pre-match drama: Nightmare Journey
Reaching the stadium on time was not the best outcome for the Socceroos. A freeway accident delayed their arrival at the stadium. By the time they reached Saitama Stadium, it was 59 minutes before kickoff. Undoubtedly, it was not the best possible time to warm up for the team since they only had 28 minutes to do so for the match.
In fact, a Japanese delegation attempted to assist the Socceroos in their plea to delay the game, but the match commissioner dismissed the plea and mandated that the match start on schedule. This prompted fans and commentators to label the situation as “scandalous” and attribute it to the poor sense of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).
Early pressure from Japan
Despite the chaotic final preparations, the Socceroos showed up and were able to compete effectively. Japan, in front of a rabid home crowd, came out at pace. The Samurai Blues bombarded the Australian defense with wave after wave of attack, yet the Socceroos were somehow solid. Tony Popovic set up his side in a narrow defensive formation to ride the Japanese onslaught.
Tony Popovic, the new Socceroos manager, made six changes to the team. The one who was making his debut for Australia was Luke Brattan. Luke Brattan is the oldest player from Australia to make his debut for the Socceroos. Popovic wanted to pack midfield and hold things tight at the back, where Ajdin Hrustic and Riley McGree played an important role in maintaining that shape.
Socceroo’s surprisingly take the lead.
As the Socceroos persistently resisted Japan’s attack and maintained possession, it seemed inevitable that Japan would strike again soon. But football is a very interesting game, and, just as this moment seemed inevitable, the Socceroos scored the goal in the 58th minute in an unexpected way.
Shogo Taniguchi, a Japanese defender, made a wild mistake when attempting to clear a harmless Lewis Miller cross into Japan’s penalty area, allowing the ball to loop over his own goalkeeper and into the back of the net. Overall, the Socceroos had not had a single shot on goal up to this point. The Socceroos were now leading 1-0.
Japan leads 1-0 with 5 minutes left, but the Socceroos had more shots and should be winning regardless of the score.
The lead did not last for too long, however. Japan rained everything down on the Socceroos’ defense. After a number of near misses, their perseverance eventually paid off in the 73rd minute, although once again, it was the Socceroos’ defense that put the ball into the net.
Australian heartbreak: Substitute Keito Nakamura’s cross sparked panic in the Australian box, prompting Cameron Burgess to attempt a last-ditch clearance, only to see the ball head towards his own goal. As both teams searched for the elusive winning goal in the final minutes of the game, neither could provide it, leaving the game deadlocked at 1-1.
Australia’s drought against Japan continues.
This was a 1-1 draw, and the Socceroos remain on a losing streak against Japan. Since their victory over the Samurai Blue in 2009, Australia has played Japan ten times, of which Japan won six and had four draws. However, the Socceroos’ tough game, considering the commotion before the game, was a positive sign for manager Tony Popovic.
The draw also maintained the three-point lead of Japan in Group C in the third round of AFC World Cup qualifiers. Meanwhile, Australia continues to hold the second position in Group C, having secured five points. However, they still have work to do to secure a ticket to the 2026 World Cup.
Criticism for the AFC
The AFC faced severe criticism for their complete lack of sportsmanship in refusing to reschedule the match, particularly given their poor pre-game situation. Fans and journalists immediately expressed their frustration on social media, calling it “outrageous” that the match wasn’t delayed to give them more time to prepare the Australians.
Of the situation, Vince Rugari from the Sydney Morning Herald quipped, “This is scandalous and an absolute ignorance of common sense.” Christian Monegan of the Herald Sun remarked that this is a “terrible look” by the AFC for not rescheduling the game.
Despite all that, the Socceroos managed to not lose focus and got away with a precious point.
Next Match
Following the draw, the Socceroos will face Saudi Arabia in another World Cup qualifying match on November 14. Japan remains safe at the top, but Australia has to do much better to complete qualification for the World Cup in 2026.
Tony Popovic, as the new manager of the Socceroos, is facing a challenging period. However, his team’s tenacity in Saitama may inspire them to finish.
Conclusion
This demonstrates the resilience and determination of the Socceroo’s. Despite the pre-game histrionics and intense pressure from the Japanese side, the Socceroo’s managed to secure a result that maintains their chances of qualifying for the World Cup. While there is still much to work on, particularly with regards to scoring opportunities, Tony Popovic’s side can take something out of this performance in preparation for the future.
