Socceroos grab vital away point as own goal prevents first win over Japan in 15 years

The Socceroos have earned a vital point away from home after falling to a 1-1 stalemate with Japan at Saitama Stadium on Tuesday evening.

Both sides’ own goals ensured no one would take the three points, but avoiding defeat – and a heavy one at that – was the most important thing for Australia in the second match of the Tony Popovic era.

Neither team had really done enough to score, when in the 58th minute a routine cross from Lewis Miller deflected off the shin of Shogo Taniguchi and into the net and the deadlock was broken.

How many leagues can make you feel like that? The A-League 2024/25 season begins on October 18.

Australia were heading towards a famous victory when Samurai Blue equalized the score through another self-inflicted wound, this time centre-half Cameron Burgess was the guilty party when he failed to deal with a dangerous Keito Nakamura cross.

Popovic made six massive changes to his starting team, including handing a late national team debut to 34-year-old Luke Bratton and replacing last Thursday’s match-winner Craig Goodwin on the bench. Joe Gauci once again maintained his position between the posts ahead of veteran Matt Ryan.

The busy Saitama traffic, coupled with an accident, meant Australia arrived at Saitama Stadium only about 45 minutes before kick-off. Japanese officials reportedly lobbied the Asian Football Confederation on Australia’s behalf to delay the kick-off, citing unfair advantage, but stubborn officials did not listen.

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Australia showed some nervousness, with Bratton making some inaccurate passes.

Japan controlled the ball in the early stages, dominated possession and quickly won the ball back through their high pressing.

Despite Australia not being able to create many chances of their own at the opposite end, they managed to limit the chances against them and went level with the dressing room.

Popovic did not give Bratton much leeway and replaced him after the break with another former Sydney FC midfielder, Patrick Yazbek.

The Socceroos broke the deadlock in very awkward circumstances as Shogo Taniguchi headed an unmarked cross from Lewis Miller into his own net, the first goal conceded by the Samurai Blue in this round of qualifying.

The lead would only last 18 minutes, when Burgess deflected Nakamura’s pass past Gauci.