Worth their weight in green and gold: Socceroos secure valuable point at Saitama in a performance which could have yielded more.

With Saitama Stadium buzzing with the sounds of tens of thousands of elated Japanese fans, looking to see their national side secure at least a point in order to cement their qualification to Brazil 2014, the Socceroos were considered great underdogs. The Japanese had never lost a competitive game at Saitama but were coming off the back of two losses, to Jordan and Bulgaria. Both teams fielded strong sides, with many players coming from Europe’s top leagues, including CSKA Moscow’s Keisuke Honda and Manchester United’s Shinji Kagawa the key men for Japan, Australia’s attacking hopes lay with the front four of their 4-2-3-1 fielded by coach Holger Osieck, comprising of Robbie Kruse, Aston Villa’s Brett Holman, 21 year old Utrecht man Tommy Oar and the seemingly ever present Tim Cahill.

The game opened in a frenzy as both teams attempted to find their feet early, from the very start Japan controlled possession through the likes of Honda, captain Makoto Hasebe and 33 year old Yasuhito Endo. The first chance came in the 5^th minute as Endo struck a free kick from just outside the 18 yard box which went inches wide of Schwarzer’s right post, the keeper looked to have it covered but it was certainly a warning shot fired by the always creative Endo.

The game continued in a very familiar pattern, with Japan holding possession before breaking forward and giving the ball to the likes of Kagawa and Honda who would look play in others or rifle off a shot themselves. Their moves would either be blocked or intercepted by the Australian back four and dished off to Kruse or Oar who kick started a counter attack as the Aussies flurried forward looking for a ball to open up the Japanese centre backs and leave Cahill, Holman or Kruse in a one on one against Japanese keeper Kawashima.

The first half was by no means lifeless despite the score line; chances fell to both teams, with a combined total of 13 shots taken in the first 45. The Socceroos were at their best when Bresciano and Milligan passed the ball and constructed play from the middle, looking to release their forwards at every opportunity or simply keeping their composure and the ball.

The Japanese were certainly the better team, especially in the first twenty minutes or so of the second half, as Kagawa and Honda got forward and saw their moves stifled by the likes of 40 year old Aussie keeper Mark Schwarzer  and centre backs Lucas Neill, who captained Australia for the 45^th time as well as Sasa Ognenovski. Notably in the 59^th minute, Kagawa managed to beat Schwarzer for the first time with a delightful chip into the far corner of the goal but was denied by the woodwork as the ball deflected away off the crossbar.

The 2^nd half so a continuation of the high intensity of the 1^st, chances fell to both sides with neither team able to capitalize on some brilliant opportunities with marvelous saves from both keepers, notably Schwarzer who was his reliable self, playing in his 106^th match for his country. The deadlock was finally broken in the 82^nd minute by young speedster Tommy Oar who scored his first ever international goal with a mind blowing run beating two players and attempting to cross to Dario Vidosic at the far post, with the ball swirling in the air and beating keeper Kawashima and somehow landing in the far corner of the net. The Socceroos celebrated with ecstatic Oar as Japanese coach Alberto Zaccheroni looked on in disbelief.

Deep into the half, the Japanese kept throwing all they had at the socceroos, bringing on attacking substitutes in an attempt to find the goal which would book their tickets to the FIFA World Cup finals in Brazil next year.  The tense final minutes looked as if they would not yield an equalizer, and it seemed as though the Socceroos had taken a valuable and famous three points in Japan until a corner was awarded to the Samurai Blues in the 90^th minute.

The ball was played in short as a cross was put into the middle, which struck Socceroo’s makeshift left back Matt Mckay on the arm and the referee rightly pointed to the spot. With the heart of every Australian football fan in their mouth, Keisuke Honda stepped up and emphatically blasted the ball down the centre of the net and Japan had secured their qualification to the world cup.

This match is one which the Socceroos will take confidence from, but Osieck needs to instill a winning mentality in them, and work on sharpening their skills if they are to make the world cup and make an impact in Brazil against the world’s top sides. Possession is the key, and Bresciano is the man who Osieck should be working with as well as the young Oar who can be a trump card for the Aussies in their upcoming fixtures against Jordan and Iraq.

That’s the Rosey Wrap on the Japan vs. Australia,

Thanks for reading,

Jake Rosengarten