Honda drives Japan to 2014 qualification

Japan became the first side to qualify for the 2014 World Cup finals in Brazil when playmaker Keisuke Honda scored an injury-time penalty to claim a 1-1 draw with Australia in a dramatic finale in Saitama yesterday.

The Blue Samurai dominated for most of the match but failed to convert that pressure into goals and Australia winger Tommy Oar looked to have made them pay when his 81st-minute cross from the left looped over Japanese goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima, who flapped and failed to clear.

But the Japanese were not to be denied and they poured forward with the equaliser inevitably coming via Honda, who only arrived in Japan on Monday after helping CSKA Moscow to the Russian Cup on Saturday.

His cross was handled in the area by full-back Matt McKay in stoppage time and the bleach blond attacker stepped up to leather the spot-kick straight down the middle past Mark Schwarzer and send the crowd into raptures.

“It’s a shame we could not get a win but I am glad we have sealed qualification for the World Cup,” Honda was quoted as saying by Kyodo.

“It was a little bit unfortunate that we went behind and there was not a lot of time left. But I spoke to Shinji (Kagawa) and we said we should keep forcing it and try to create space.

“Luckily for us we were able to get a penalty and I was able to put it away.”

The result moved leaders Japan on to 14 points from seven matches in Asian qualifying Group B, meaning they are assured of top spot and reaching the 2014 finals in Brazil with a game to spare.

The result aided Australia’s hopes of taking the other qualifying spot in the group but Socceroos coach Holger Osieck was slightly disappointed not to have snatched a smash and grab win.

“Before the game a draw would have been good but when you are that close... of course a draw is a little bit disappointing,” Osieck told Fox Sports.