On the morning of October 12, Beijing time, Qatar 2022
World Cup
A crucial fourth round clash was witnessed in the Group B of the intense 12-team Asian qualifying tournament. In a smoke-filled match at the Saitama 2002 Stadium, Japan's soccer team defeated Australia by a narrow 2-1 margin. After the first four rounds of intense fighting, Australia leads the way with nine points from three wins and one loss, while Japan follows with six points from two wins and two losses.
The turning point of the match came in the 9th minute when Japan's Bea Tanaka broke the deadlock by showing a precise shot from the right side of the box. And in the 70th minute, despite referee Jassim changing an originally awarded penalty kick to a free kick, Australia's Hrstic equalized with a brilliant direct free kick. However, the dramatic twist came in the 85th minute, when Australian defender Besic accidentally scored an own goal during a breakaway, and Japan eventually took all three points by a score of 2-1.
On the Japanese side, star player Kubo Kenyoung was unable to play due to injury, while Shibasaki came on as a substitute and Tanaka Bea made his debut as a debutant in his first World Cup qualifier. For Australia, right back Karasic starts, while Grant returns to the bench and Mooi, who plays for Shanghai Harbour, is a starter.
Early in the match, in the 6th minute, Japan's Kou Endo attempted a header, but it was unfortunately deflected off the line. In the 9th minute, Takumi Minamino sent a diagonal pass from the left side to the far post, where Besic made a mistake in the tackle, and Bea Tanaka, unmarked and unchallenged, fired a right-footed shot from 8 meters on the right side of the penalty area into the left corner of the net, giving Japan a 1-0 lead, which became Bea's maiden goal for the national team.
In the 13th minute, Taggart leapt high on a chance from a corner kick on the left side and overpowered a defender's header to form a drop shot, which Shuichi Gonda didn't dare to slack off in front of the goal, tipping the ball over the crossbar. At the end of the first half, Japan took a 1-0 lead over Australia into the halftime break.
