Japan turned the primary crew to qualify for the 2026 World Cup on Thursday as South Korea have been held however nonetheless inched nearer together with a rampant Australia. Daichi Kamada and Takefusa Kubo scored within the second half to present Japan a 2-0 residence win over Bahrain and take their place alongside hosts the United States, Canada and Mexico at subsequent 12 months’s finals. The runaway Asian Group C leaders did not sparkle on a cold evening in Saitama till substitute Kamada pounced for the opener within the 66th minute. In entrance of practically 60,000 followers, Kubo added one other within the 87th minute as Japan sealed their berth in model.
It shall be their eighth straight World Cup look.
“I’m relieved that we may qualify at residence in entrance of our supporters,” mentioned Kubo, earlier than he and his team-mates doused coach Hajime Moriyasu with water.
“This right here isn’t our purpose — we wish to compete towards robust groups on the World Cup.”
Australia are in pole place to qualify out of Group C with Japan.
Two objectives in two minutes helped the Socceroos safe a 5-1 thrashing of Indonesia as Dutch legend Patrick Kluivert was nicely crushed in his first recreation in cost.
Japan lead on 19 factors. Australia are second on 10 factors, 4 away from the chasing pack of Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Bahrain and China.
Australia have three video games left to play, beginning with a crunch away fixture towards China on Tuesday.
The prime two go straight to North America, with groups ending third and fourth within the three Asian teams going into an extra spherical of qualifying.
Indonesia missed an early penalty earlier than a Martin Boyle spot-kick and a Nishan Velupillay strike inside a frantic opening 20 minutes did the harm at Sydney Football Stadium.
A brace from Jackson Irvine and one other by Lewis Miller sealed a giant win, however Australian skipper Mat Ryan was not solely glad.
“I believe the scoreline flatters us a bit bit to be sincere,” the goalkeeper mentioned.
“At the beginning of the sport they’d two massive possibilities, and in the event that they put one among them away, it may have been a special recreation.”
– Oman late leveller –
South Korea are nonetheless on track for 2026 however conceded a purpose with 10 minutes left as Oman snatched a treasured 1-1 away draw.
The hosts appeared set for all three factors after Wolves striker Hwang Hee-chan put them forward within the first half with a scientific end after Lee Kang-in’s very good threaded via ball.
But Ali Al Busaidi struck from simply exterior the field to stun many of the crowd at Goyang Stadium.South Korea nonetheless lead Asian qualifying Group B with 15 factors and three matches left to play, beginning at residence to Jordan on Tuesday.
Iraq are second within the group on 11 however have performed a recreation much less.
Jordan are third on 9 with Oman fourth on seven.
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