Australia put a stop to Japan’s strong start in the third phase of Asia’s World Cup qualifiers, securing a hard-fought 1-1 draw at Saitama Stadium on Tuesday. The match saw a dramatic turn when Cameron Burgess inadvertently scored an own goal, denying Australia a shock victory over the group leaders.
The game began with hope for the Australians when Shogo Taniguchi scored an own goal in the 58th minute, giving Australia a temporary lead. However, Burgess’s misstep 14 minutes from the end leveled the score.
Australia managed to secure the draw despite facing challenges in their preparations due to heavy traffic that delayed their arrival. Captain Jackson Irvine praised his team’s resilience: “In the most difficult moments, that’s when the boys stand up, no excuses… I’m very proud of everybody.”
The result ended Japan’s impressive streak of nine consecutive wins in World Cup qualifying, during which they had not conceded a goal. Japan remains atop Group C with 10 points from four matches, while Australia sits in second place with five points—four of which have come since Tony Popovic took over as coach.
Popovic implemented a defensive strategy, making six changes from the previous match, including giving Luke Brattan, 34, his international debut. Despite Japan’s initial dominance, Australia took the lead when Taniguchi’s mishap put them ahead.
Japan’s attacking prowess was bolstered by the introduction of Keito Nakamura, whose run opened up the defense and led to Burgess’s own goal, ensuring the hosts left with a share of the points.
