Re-emphasising the bold vision he has espoused since succeeding Holger Osieck in 2013, Ange Postecoglou said this week that his team have bigger goals than simply qualifying for the World Cup. On Thursday night, however, that goal looks big enough as the Socceroos’ chances of automatically qualifying for Russia 2018 were put in jeopardy after they were defeated 2-0 by Japan in Saitama.
A first ever win on Japanese soil would have ensured Australia’s qualification but, instead, it is Japan – who scored a goal in each half, the sealer coming in the 82nd minute – who have guaranteed their passage to Russia.
Australia, meanwhile, level on points with Saudi Arabia, and keen to avoid a third-place play-off scenario, must now beat Group B cellar-dwellers Thailand on Tuesday night in Melbourne in the final round of qualifying.
Moreover, they may also need to win handsomely in order to edge out Saudi Arabia on goal difference in the event the gulf state team defeats Japan on Wednesday morning in Jeddah. How crucial now those four draws in qualifying; draws that always had the feel of potential ghosts waiting to haunt the Socceroos, especially that howling, chain-clinking 2-2 draw against Thailand in Bangkok last November.
Of a more pressing concern for Postecoglou, however, is lifting his team that lacked sharpness, polish and, tonight at least, an ill Aaron Mooy.
Australia’s night got off to a sombre start with the news breaking just before kick-off that the veteran Fairfax and Fox Sports football journalist Michael Cockerill had died, aged 56. Commentator Robbie Slater all but broke down on air as he paid tribute to Cockerill, a tireless advocate for the game over decades.
There was no lift in spirits once the game began. For a team leading the group heading into the match, Japan chewed its collective nails in the build-up, but you wouldn’t have known it by the way the Blue Samurai started. With big names Keisuke Honda, Shinji Kagawa and Shinji Okasaki on the bench, Japan began brightly, the blade of their attack catching the stadium lighting just so.
Buoyed by a boisterous crowd of 60,000, they pressed Australia high up the pitch, winning a couple of early corners for their efforts. Central defenders Trent Sainsbury and Matt Spiranovic were given plenty of work to do early on but both looked composed and made some telling interceptions.
It wasn’t until the seventh minute that the Socceroos made a threatening incursion into Japanese territory, one that ended up with Tom Rogic taking a weak side-foot volley from the edge of the area after Japan failed to clear a James Troisi corner.
Though Australia dominated first-half possession (58%-42%) most of it was in their own half. When they did enjoy possession higher up the pitch they struggled to find the right ball from midfield and Robbie Kruse, who started as a lone frontman, seemed to lack support, though Brad Smith was active on the left flank – even if at times he looked rustier than a bike left out in the rain, his touch and pass heavy. It was hardly surprising given his lack of minutes for his Premier League side Bournemouth so far this season.
Australia’s best moment came late in the first half. In the 32nd minute Troisi slipped past Takashi Inui on the right touchline as if the latter were wearing lead boots. He then pushed a curling through-ball into the path of Kruse but there was a tad too much weight on it and keeper Eiji Kawashimi was able to collect it.
Six minutes later Massimo Luongo brought down a Troisi pass on his chest and beat two defenders with a sudden u-turn before finding Matthew Leckie on his inside. Leckie came within a paint job of putting the Socceroos ahead when his low shot deflected off the legs of Maya Yoshida before striking the far post with Kawashimi beaten.
Those efforts aside, the half belonged largely to Japan who showed more enterprise and more willingness to press forward in numbers. While they lacked finesse in the final third at times they fashioned a number of opportunities, first when Takuma Asano sent a header into the side netting following a cross from the left wing. Asano got another similar chance later in the half after Yuto Nagatomo crossed after some lovely tight passing in midfield.
The break-through came in the 41st minute when Nagatomo cut inside Leckie on the left wing and sent a low trajectory cross to the six-yard box. The excellent Asano, who threatened throughout the half, had ghosted away from his marker, Smith, to side foot home. Smith looked forlornly to the linesman for a flag that wasn’t forthcoming.
In the end Australia were fortunate to go the break just one down. A minute after the goal Asano linked with Gōtoku Sakai on the right wing and his inch-perfect cross found Yuya Osako who, under pressure, volleyed just wide.
The second half was dominated by Japan who had a chance in the 77th minute to put the game to bed. Inside his own half Ideguchi started a move that saw substitute Genki Haraguchi careen into space down the left channel. His cross evaded five gold shirts as it travelled through the Australian penalty box to where Idegucki was waiting to meet it with time to triangulate his options. After taking a touch he drove his shot towards the far post where it would have rippled the net but for Sainsbury putting his body on the line.
Shortly after Japan coach Vahid Halilhodžić stormed onto the field to protest a strong challenge by Mark Milligan, Japan scored the goal that ensured victory.
After Haraguchi pilfered the ball from the feet of Luongo he shuttled the ball out to Ideguchi, still with plenty to do, and with Jackson Irvine in his face. The 21-year-old ghosted to the side of Irvine and set off running along the edge of the area before smashing a right foot shot into the top right corner to clear the Japanese bench and send Australia to their knees.
