Australia on brink of World Cup after dramatic late winner against Japan

Connor Metcalfe of Australia controls the ball under pressure from Joel Chima Fujita of Japan during the World Cup qualifier. PHOTO: EPA-EFE

UPDATED Jun 06, 2025, 12:46 AM

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PERTH – Left-back Aziz Behich scored a last-minute winner, as Australia moved to the brink of qualification for the 2026 World Cup Finals with a 1-0 win over Japan in Perth on June 5.

With time running out, Behich pounced on Riley McGree’s cutback and turned to lash the ball into the net to the delight of a crowd of 57,226 fans who had endured a laboured performance from the Socceroos.

Australia remain in second place in Group C on 16 points, four behind the already qualified Japanese. They will go through to the Finals if fourth-placed Saudi Arabia (10 points) failed to beat Bahrain in Riffa later in the day – the match finished after press time.

Even if the later result in Bahrain went against them, Australia’s superior goal difference means that they will progress to a sixth successive World Cup with anything barring a heavy defeat when they meet the Saudis in Jeddah on June 10.

The top two teams in each of the three six-team groups qualify automatically for the World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada.

“It hasn’t quite sunk in just yet but when that final whistle went, it was a great feeling,” Behich said.

“It was a tough game, we knew we had to grind it out. The boss said at half-time that no matter how tough it gets, we will get our opportunity if we get to it. Fortunately enough, it fell to me and my right foot.

“In a football sense, this is the best week (of my life). It has been a long campaign and we have worked so hard over this campaign. The group we have in this changing room and the boys that come in every camp, the mentality is second to none.

“I think that we more than deserve to go to the World Cup again.”

Australia’s first win over the Samurai Blue in 16 years and Japan’s first international loss since February 2024 looked highly unlikely for 89 minutes until Behich struck.

Japan, who were the first country to qualify for the World Cup, rested most of their top players and fielded a team with three debutants but still dominated possession as Australia struggled to get a foothold in the contest.

Outworked and starved of the ball, the Socceroos won their first corner after half an hour which resulted in their first shot, a glancing header wide from Connor Metcalfe.

For all their possession, the Samurai Blue produced little to trouble Mathew Ryan in the Australia goal, with new cap Yu Hirakawa coming closest to scoring with a low shot that flew past the post in the 37th minute.

Australia coach Tony Popovic made two changes at half-time to try and secure more possession, but his players continued to chase shadows as Hajime Moriyasu’s young team stroked the ball around.

The Japanese still lacked a cutting edge up front even after a bit more experience came off the bench and substitute Takefusa Kubo beat Ryan but missed the target with a great opportunity in the 80th minute.

Australia never gave up, however, and substitute midfielder McGree finally produced a moment of quality to turn his defender and get to the byeline before pulling the ball back for Behich to score the goal.

Japan coach Moriyasu was disappointed with the loss even if it was of little consequence.

“Although many players with little experience played, they made the best preparations to play in our style, so it’s very disappointing that the result didn’t come to fruition in the end,” he said.

“I’m very disappointed that we couldn’t deliver a victory... but time’s not coming back. We’ll do our best to prepare to win the next match at home and finish off the campaign.”

Meanwhile, China’s hopes of reaching only a second World Cup were ended later on June 5 after a 1-0 defeat by Patrick Kluivert’s Indonesia in Jakarta.

Ole Romeny scored the only goal, his controversial penalty just before half-time following a VAR check leaving China rooted to the bottom of Group C, with Indonesia in third place on 12 points and in the running for a spot in the next round. REUTERS, AFP

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