A goal from Mile Jerdinak ensured that Japan did not leave with the required three points in a World Cup qualifying match.

Japan were set for a big win after Genki Haraguchi grabbed a fifth minute goal. The first half of the affair proceeded rather slowly after the goal. However, the Socceroos found their way into the game gradually. The Japanese would be unhappy for gifting the Aussies the penalty that led to the equalizer, but would be grateful that they did not concede another. The final twenty minutes of the game saw the Ange Postecoglou-led side chase a possible winner ruthlessly. The transformation came too late for the hosts to get the much wanted match winner.

Australia would be happy that they were able to eventually get a point from the clash with the Samurai Blues but they are likely to lose the top spot in the group. The consolation is that they remain one point ahead of the Japs. They still have a long way to go with six matches and would hope that their fortune get better. They actually started the qualifying campaign with so much confidence but it is not as high now.

Haraguchi got his third in three matches when he intercepted a pass from Trent Sainsbury. It was a one on one chance that he converted well. The Japanese fans came out in their numbers to out-sing locals at the Etihad stadium that housed over 48,000 fans.

Australia played the 4-4-2 formation, adding surprise player Apostolos Giannou to Tomi Juric in the front yet the duo could not breakthrough. As the game went on, they changed formation to 4-3-3.

Japan u-16 national team prepare for last group stage game of AFC U-16 championship hosted by India.

The U-16 Japan National Team, which has built positive momentum with two consecutive wins following their victory in the second group stage match against U-16 Kyrgyzstan, held only one training session in the morning the following day after the game.

The players who had been on the pitch in the match, focused on recovering while the rest of the players practiced in a game format for one hour. Another match in the same group was played, and U-16 Vietnam won against U-16 Australia. As a result, Japan have already secured the top spot in the group and advanced to the next stage after crushing Australia u-16 with a 6-0 big win.

The team’s coach, Moriyama Yoshiro reviewed the two previous games and advice the players to brace themselves. “Your effort brought positive results. But, we haven’t achieved anything yet,” he said.

Meanwhile, Japan have established themselves as the team to beat at the tournament after winning all of their group matches, scoring 21 times in the process, made them outstanding. Japan demolished Vietnam 7-0 in their opening game and continued to dominate as they hammered Kyrgyzstan 8-0.

Japan’s opponents, the United Arab Emirates have had a less spectacular path to the knockout stage, though they are still unbeaten. Despite his side’s perfect record, Japan coach Yoshiro Moriyama has cautioned against complacency.
“Despite our performances in the group stage, we will not be overconfident coming into our quarter-final game, we know that it’s going to be tough. UAE is a difficult team and didn’t lose any games in the group stages and, while we’re happy we won our group, the competition is going to be totally different now that we’re into the knockout phase,” he said.