A pair of goals in the dying minutes from Japan substitute Kaoru Mitoma resigned the Socceroos to a dismal 2-0 defeat on a dreary night for Australian football that matched the drizzling rain at Stadium Australia.
Tactically blunt and outplayed across the park, the Socceroos – eventually – received the punishment their performance deserved. Mitoma finally handed the visitors a long-overdue goal in the 89th minute, passing the ball into the back of the net after receiving a cut-back from the byline.
Then in stoppage time Mitoma made it two when he cut in from the left wing, beat four stationary Socceroos defenders before rifling the ball past Australian gloveman Mat Ryan.
The result guarantees the Socceroos will have to take the knockout playoff route to qualify for the World Cup, with a sudden-death game against another Asian team followed by a do-or-die game against the fifth-placed team in South America.
The defeat extended a winless run against Japan to nine matches and 13 years, and was the first defeat in a ‘live’ world cup qualifier at home (where the result mattered to Australia’s qualification hopes) – in over four decades.
Australia had a first-half goal ruled out in controversial fashion and threatened on rare occasions in the second half, but Japan could easily have outscored the Socceroos by five goals, such was their dominance throughout. Liverpool attacker Takumi Minamino alone struck the post twice in a first half where he directed five shots on goal.
In front of 41,852 on a rainy night at Accor Stadium, previously known as Stadium Australia, Australia’s structures and complete lack of ideas were exposed time after time.
On the same hallowed turf where the Socceroos booked their spot in the 2006 World Cup, thanks to John Aloisi’s iconic penalty against Uruguay, the same patch of grass where Mile Jedinak bagged three goals against Honduras to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, Graham Arnold’s men produced a performance that was wholly forgettable.
Coach Graham Arnold said: “I think we battled hard tonight. I think we left everything out there… at the end of the day the quality of Japan (did) us.”
Much of the build-up to the game centered on Australia’s poor preparation, hampered as it was by a raft of injuries and Covid-19 enforced absences.
Arnold was forced to name a significantly-changed line-up including debutant Gianni Stensness in midfield, while two further debutants – including 34-year-old Bruno Fornaroli – emerged off the bench.
But it was not just inexperience that was the problem, though Stensness and fellow defensive midfielder Connor Metcalfe were wholly overrun in the heart of the park.
Rather, the Socceroos were mismatched from front to back, defensively porous and ineffectual going forward.
Arnold said: “I don’t want to use any excuses. At the end of the day I take responsibility for the result. It’s been a very tough two years … with the international travel (and Covid-19).” – Fox Sports
