On the evening of March 24, Beijing time, the World Preliminary Round of 12 in Asia ended a focus battle, and the Japanese men's football team played against the Australian men's football team away. In the end, Japan won 2-0, won 6 consecutive wins, advanced a round straight to the World Cup, the 7th time in the history of the team, continued to rank second in Asia, 9 rounds of group stage 22 points, too strong.
After a bad start, the Japanese team has won a wave of 5 consecutive wins, from the fourth place in the group to the second place in the group, occupying the initiative to advance to the World Cup. At present, Japan is three points ahead of the third-place Australian team, so as long as the away team wins this round, it can lock in the top two of the group in the first round and advance to the World Cup.
In the latest edition of FIFA's World Rankings, Japan ranks 23rd, Asia 2nd, Australia 37th and Asia 4th. In the past 12 years, Japan has not lost to Australia for eight consecutive times, with a record of 4 wins and 4 draws, including a 2-1 home win in the round of 12.
After the opening, the Japanese team took the initiative, organized several threat attacks, and was close to the goal. In the 31st minute, Junya Ito's cross from the right was met by Takushi Minamino's header from the penalty area that hit the crossbar and popped up. In the 36th minute, Takumi Minamino's forward shot hit the crossbar again to pop up.
At the end of the first half, the score was still 0-0, and Japan had 59% of the ball and led Australia 11-6 on goal.
In the 79th minute, Jun Ito also sent a straight ball, Nagatomo Yuto knocked in front of the goal in the penalty area, and Takumi Minamino's shot was blocked. In the 86th minute, Junya Ito's shot was blocked. In the 88th minute, Sanji scored, and in the 94th minute, Sanji scored again to help Japan seal the win 2-0.
In the end, the Japanese team defeated the Australian team twice at home and away in two legs, with 21 points, surpassed the Saudi team by 2 points in one round of multiple matches, rose to the first place in the group, and locked the top two in the group in the first round, becoming the third team to qualify for the World Cup after Iran and South Korea.
If Japan draws 0-0 with Australia, then if you want to advance to the World Cup, you need to rely on the national football team to assist. Saudi Arabia lost to the national football team, the points stayed at 19 points, the last round of home against Australia, the two teams must have a team points can not surpass the Japanese team, so the Japanese team can lock the top two in the group, now the Japanese team does not use.