Socceroos likely book World Cup 2026 berth after last-gasp Aziz Behich goal against Japan

The Guardian

a day ago

It's the smash-and-grab to end all smash-and-grabs and one that means everything to Australia. In the 90th minute of a game in which the Socceroos had been besieged by Japan, in which a rampant Samurai Blue had done everything but fashion that clearcut chance they needed to score a winning goal, Aziz Behich went back across his body and bent a shot with his non-preferred right foot beyond Kosei Tani and into the back of the net. With one fell swoop, with his first goal in green and gold in 13 years, the veteran defender had all but ensured that Australia punched their tickets to the 2026 FIFA World Cup and, in doing so, cemented his place in Australian football folklore.
Pandemonium gripped Perth Stadium. Behich streaked away towards the corner flag before being enveloped by teammates from every direction. On the sidelines, Tony Popovic let out a guttural roar before embracing his staff while the pyrotechnics were going off in the stands and strangers embraced each other in delirious jubilation.
Australia hadn't beaten Japan for 16 years, but now, three points against Asia's pre-eminent power in the bag, they will enter the final match day of Asian qualifying's third round a minimum of three points clear of second-placed Saudi Arabia, who they will face in Jeddah next week. Should the Saudis fail to defeat Bahrain later this evening, Australia will make that flight with their qualification already assured. And even if Hervé Renard's side can get a win in Riffa, they will need to overhaul a goal difference that currently stands at +10 to the Socceroos, having scored just four goals so far in qualification.
Behich's goal is a moment that will now be immortalised for generations to come. He stands alongside John Aloisi, Josh Kennedy, Tim Cahill, Mile Jedinak and Andrew Redmayne as a hero of Australian qualification. Few will remember the dominance that Japan had enjoyed prior to that goal in the decades to come, and even fewer will care. Because the Socceroos look designed for another World Cup.
After 45 minutes had elapsed in Perth, the Japanese had controlled 70% of possession, had seven shots to Australia's two and made passes in the Socceroos' half of the pitch 136 times. By the time the full-time whistle rang out, their share of possession had slipped to 69% but they'd now had 13 shots to six, and passed the ball in their foes' half 336 times compared to 234 in their own. Popovic's side, just as they had in Saitama last October, were being crushed under the weight of possession and territory.
The one small mercy for the Socceroos was that throughout all this, the Japanese managed just a single shot on target in the first half, a long-range effort from Yu Hirakawa that was comfortably saved by Mathew Ryan. Yuito Suzuki had burst through the midfield in the 28th minute in a much more threatening move, only to bend his resulting shot wide of the goal, while Hirakawa would send another long-range effort just wide of the post in the 37th.
The Socceroos would fashion some signs of resistance early in the second stanza but on both these occasions, as if they were insulted by these signs of resistance, Japan responded. After a Riley McGree sight on goal in the second, they quickly resumed their offensive pile-on. After a Cameron Burgess one, Moriyasu brought on Takefusa Kubo. One of the few regulars in the rotated squad that had travelled to Perth, his coach had opted to keep the attacker on the bench to start the game alongside other regulars such as Wataru Endō and Zion Suzuki. He flashed a lethal looking shot on goal in the 90th minute but it went just wide. Exhale.
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Somehow, after 90 minutes of suffering, Australia was still alive. They kept running. And then McGree, brought on as a second-half substitute, made an incredible turn and darted into the box before cutting the ball back. And then Behich met the ball. And then, history.