Socceroos let lead slip but hang on for Japan draw

Updated: Oct 15, 2024, 08:58 am

An own-goal by Cameron Burgess denied Australia what would have been a huge win over Japan in the Asian qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Tuesday.
An own-goal by Cameron Burgess denied Australia what would have been a huge win over Japan in the Asian qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Tuesday.
Kenta Harada/Getty Images

Australia let a 1-0 lead over Japan slip via a heartbreaking Cameron Burgess own goal but desperately clung on to claim a crucial 1-1 draw in their crunch FIFA World Cup Asian qualifier in Saitama.

The Socceroos were on track to claim their first win over the Samurai Blue in Japan after a horror own goal by Shogo Tanaguchi in the 58th minute gave the Socceroos the most unlikely of leads in front of 58,730 fans at Saitama Stadium.

Tanaguchi inexplicably tried to clear a Lewis Miller cross with the outside of his right boot instead of using his left, and sliced the ball past goalkeeper Zion Suzuki.

But 18 minutes later, Burgess knocked a Keito Nakamura squaring ball into his own net, with the Socceroos having to desperately defend to hold on for their first point in Japan since 2013.

Australia have five points from their first four games and currently sit second in group C behind Japan (10 points), pending other results -- with the top two teams qualifying directly for the 2026 World Cup.

The Socceroos return to action in a huge clash against Saudi Arabia at Melbourne's AAMI Park on Nov. 14. After collecting a late booking in Japan, Craig Goodwin will be suspended for the clash.