Japan, Saudi Arabia Qualify for 2022 World Cup to Claim Asia’s Final Automatic Berths

Japan qualified for a seventh straight World Cup after a win in Australia, which also sent Saudi Arabia to Qatar.

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Japan qualified for a seventh straight World Cup by beating Australia 2-0 Thursday and ended the Socceroos’ chances of automatic qualification.

The result in Sydney also qualified Saudi Arabia from Group B.

Japan has 21 points in the group, two more than the Saudis ahead of their match against China later Thursday.

Australia remains in contention for a playoff spot in third place. The Aussies face a playoff against the third-place team from Group A and a possible final game against South American opposition.

Substitute Kaoru Mitoma scored two late goals for Japan after Takumi Minamino came close on five occasions.

SCENES. 🇯🇵

Kaoru Mitoma scores in the 89th minute to break the deadlock and send Japan to their 7th straight @FIFAWorldCup. 🎉 pic.twitter.com/Fjo03YWd3k

— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) March 24, 2022

Mitomo came on in the 84th minute and scored in 89th after a pull back from Miki Yamane. His low shot then bobbled under Australia goalkeeper Matthew Ryan in injury time.

“The win was the result of the players preparing hard and working hard and I hope the fans at home can share in the joy,” Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu said.

Australia nearly took the lead in the first half when Gianni Stensness headed in a corner but the referee ruled that Trent Sainsbury fouled goalkeeper Shuichi Gonda.

“It’s obviously disappointing,” Australia coach Graham Arnold said. “But at the 87th minute, 0-0 was still not good enough to qualify so we opened ourselves up and went four up front and gave them too much space, and at the end of the day they are a quality team and probably the better team on the night.”

Australia now has to focus on qualifying for the World Cup via the playoff route for a second straight time.

“We have got the third place spot and you have to be positive about that,” Arnold said. “We did that in 2018 and we just have to move forward.”

On Tuesday, Japan will host last-place Vietnam while Australia travels to Jeddah to take on Saudi Arabia.

In Group A, South Korea defeated Iran 2-0 in Seoul to move into first place. Son Heung-min and Kim Young-gwon scored a goal each.

Both teams had already secured their World Cup spots — South Korea for the 10th straight time.