World Cup ticket at the last minute
Saudi Arabia celebrates as Japan celebrates late
03/24/2022, 6:12 p.m
Last-minute win: Japan qualifies for the 2022 World Cup with a late win in Australia – Union Berlin’s Genki Haraguchi is the focus. Saudi Arabia can celebrate with them, because Japan’s triumph means that the Saudis are also there in Qatar. The Socceroos are still hoping.
After the salvation, Kaoru Mitoma started a wild run of celebration and let every single Blue Samurai heart her: When the seventh World Cup participation in a row was confirmed by an away win in Australia, the joy of the Japanese knew no bounds. Five Germany legionnaires were also involved in the decisive 2-0 (0-0) success.
First and foremost Genki Haraguchi from Union Berlin, who initiated the decisive attack. Mitoma, who, like Haraguchi, only came on five minutes earlier, completed the lead in the 89th minute and then even made the decision in injury time (90+4).
There was a celebration in Riyadh – because Saudi Arabia also benefited from Japan’s success and has a ticket for Qatar for sure. The Saudis take on China this afternoon. 17 of 32 World Cup finalists (21 November to 18 December) have now been determined.
“When I was on the bench, I just thought: If I come in, I just have to do my job and score a goal,” said 24-year-old Mitoma, who currently earns his money at Royale Union Saint-Gilloise in Belgium: ” I’m really happy for the players, the people of Japan and all the Japanese fans.” In addition to Haraguchi, the other Bundesliga professionals Wataru Endo (VfB Stuttgart) and Takuma Asano (VfL Bochum) as well as the second division players Ao Tanaka (Fortuna Düsseldorf) and Ko Itakura (Schalke 04) also went.
Pure disappointment for the Socceroos from Australia, for whom Ajdin Hrustic from Eintracht Frankfurt fought in vain in front of 42,000 fans at the Australia Stadium. The Aussies can’t get past third place and face third-placed Group A in Asia in a playoff. The winner of the duel then plays against the fifth-placed South American qualifier for World Cup participation.
“Of course it’s disappointing that we didn’t get the result we wanted,” said coach Graham Arnold, who was viewed quite critically by the Australian fans: “But at the end of the day we got third place and that you have to see it positively.” He continues to believe in his team. Most recently, Australia had participated in a World Cup finals four times in a row. Five teams from Asia have already qualified for the World Cup. In addition to Japan and Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Iran and South Korea are also hosts.