Socceroos face sudden-death play-offs after Japan loss

Australia’s dream of a fifth straight World Cup has been dealt a major blow, after a concession in the 89th minute opened the door to a heartbreaking 2-0 loss to Japan

Kaoru Mitoma scores a goal a kills off the Socceroos’ hopes of direct qualification to the World Cup Picture: Getty Images

Australia’s dream of a fifth straight World Cup has been dealt a major blow, after a concession in the 89th minute opened the door to a heartbreaking 2-0 loss to Japan in their Group B qualifier in Sydney on Thursday night.

The Socceroos were unable to channel the spirits of past football heroics at Stadium Australia, and will now need to win two sudden-death play-offs if they are to qualify for this year’s tournament in Qatar in November.

Patchy rain didn’t deter over 41,000 fans from filing into Olympic Park for the clash, creating a party-like atmosphere for the first major post-Covid sporting occasion in the city for 2022.

The Socceroos went into the match after one of the most disrupted build-ups in recent memory, losing a dozen squad members due to injury, Covid-19, and club stubbornness.

Indeed, Australian coach Graham Arnold barely made it to Olympic Park, released from quarantine just hours before kick-off after dealing with his second case of Covid in two months.

Needing at minimum a draw to remain in contention for automatic qualification, the odds were already heavily stacked against the Aussies who were hunting for their first victory over their Asian rivals since 2009, with the Japanese squad coming off a five-match winning hot streak.

The sense of “mission impossible” only increased as the home side took to the field without key playmakers Tom Rogic, Aaron Mooy and Jackson Irvine, resulting in a largely one-sided first half with Australia’s defence holding on for dear life against constant Japanese pressure.

The tortuous examination saw striker Takumi Minamino hit the crossbar not once but twice, as the Blue Samurai failed to make the most of multiple chances gifted to them inside the first 45.

“We had a lot of key players out tonight. I don’t want to use excuses and I take responsibility for the results,” Arnold said afterwards.

“It’s been a tough two years but some people don’t want to hear that. It’s always difficult (through the playoffs) to qualify for the World Cup.

“At the end of the day we’ve got to brush ourselves off,” he continued.

The hosts were not completely devoid of opportunities, however, with Mitchell Duke missing a golden chance to put the Aussies in front, failing to find the back of the net with a regulation header in the 39th minute.

The second half started on slightly more even footing, with an Ajdin Hrustic free-kick from 30m out nearly beating Japanese keeper Suichi Gonda.

Japan’s Kaoru Matoma scored in the 89th minute, then found the back of the net again in the 94th minute to assure Japanese qualification for the main tournament.

Australia will play the final game of their Asian qualifying group stage on Wednesday against Saudi Arabia in what will now be a dead rubber. They will then likely face the UAE in their Asian play-off and will then need to defeat the fifth-placed South American team if they are to qualify.