A stunning 90th minute strike from Aziz Behich has given Australia a 1-0 win over Japan and leaves them on the brink of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The Melbourne City defender fired home with his right foot to send a sold-out Perth Stadium into raptures, in the process creating another iconic national team moment and ending a 16-year winless streak against Japan.
The crowd of 57,226, the largest for a Socceroos game since 2017, saw a second-string Japanese side control the majority of the contest and create the better chances across 90 minutes of cagey football but that mattered little at the full time whistle.
The win means Australia sit six points ahead of Saudi Arabia who play Bahrain later today. Australia travel to Saudi Arabia for the final Group C game on Tuesday, knowing any result could see them qualify given their superior goal difference.
A cagey opening ten minutes saw Japan dominate possession while the hosts had the opposite problem – they were unable to string a passage of play together, giving the home support very little to cheer about.
The first real sight of goal came in the 28th minute when Yuito Suzuki picked up the ball in midfield and drove towards goal unopposed. However, his shot drifted wide of Mat Ryan’s left-hand post. Hearts were in mouths soon afterwards as a clean strike from Yu Hirakawa flew past Ryan’s other upright.
Hirakawa tried his luck again with a left-foot strike from outside the box that was straight down the throat of Ryan as the first half drew to a close.
Australia coach Tony Popovic introduced Patrick Yazbek and Riley McGree at the break but the changes made little difference to the flow of the game. A half chance for Aziz Behich and a flicked header by Cameron Burgess from a long throw is as close as they came to a sight of goal in the first hour as a Mexican Wave broke out around the stadium.
Japan came within inches of stealing the win on 80 minutes. Takefusa Kubo faked to shoot on his left in the penalty area before placing a shot just wide of the post, to audible gasps from around the stadium.
As the contest reached the closing stages, Australia were firmly camped in their own half with a back five protecting Ryan’s goal. However, they managed to venture up the pitch and when McGree beat his man and cut the ball back, Behich was on hand to fire home.
The sheer joy that greeted the winning goal will live long in the memory, and Perth now has a moment that sits right up there with Aloisi, Cahill, Leckie, et al.
Australia: 1. Mathew RYAN, 2. Milos DEGENEK, 3. Lewis MILLER, 6. Martin BOYLE, 8. Connor METCALFE, 11. Brandon BORRELLO, 13. Aiden O’NEILL, 16. Aziz BEHICH, 17.
Ryan TEAGUE, 21. Cameron BURGESS, 23. Alessandro CIRCATI.
Subs: 4. Kye ROWLES, 5. Anthony CACERES, 7. Kai TREWEN, 9. Adam TAGGART, 10. Daniel ARZANI, 12. Paul IZZO, 14. Riley MCGREE, 15. Mitchell DUKE, 18. Joe GAUCHI, 19. Patrick YAZBEK, 20. Marco TILIO, 22. Jason GERIA.
Japan: 23. Kosei TANI, 2. Hiroki SEKINE, 4. Tsuyoshi WATANABE, 5. Kaishu SANO, 7. Joel FUJITA, 8. Yuito SUZUKI, 9. Ohashi YUKI, 11. Yu HIRAKAWA, 15. Daichi KAMADA, 16. Koki MACHIDA, 20. Kota TAWARATSUMIDA.
Subs: 1. Zion SUZUKI, 3. Kota TAKAI, 6. Wataru ENDO, 10. Takefusa KUBO, 12. Keisuke OSAKO, 13. Keito NAKAMURA, 14. Shunsuke MITO, 17. Ryoya MORISHITA, 18. Shuto MACHINO, 19. Kodai SANO, 21. Koki KUMASAKA, 22. Ayumu SEKO.
