Australia 0-2 Japan: two late goals sent Samurai Blues to Qatar 2022

With a 2-0 triumph in Sydney on Friday, Kaoru Mitoma delivered two late goals to secure

's participation in the

at the cost of beating their hosts

. 

With a second-half cameo that proved precious for the guests, the Union SG winger came off the seat to snare two crucial goals and shatter the hearts of the Australians. 

Mitoma was substituted for Liverpool attacker Takumi Minamino in the 84th minute and scored his first goal five minutes later, slotting a cut-back past Mathew Ryan from close range.

He then added to his score in stoppage time to secure the win, cruising into the penalty area on a beautiful individual run before forcing Ryan to slip to finish. 

With the win, the Samurai Blue go six points ahead of Australia, confirming themselves and Saudi Arabia as the latest AFC nations to qualify, behind Iran and South Korea. 

Graham Arnold's third-placed team will still have a chance to qualify for Qatar via the AFC's fourth-round playoff, which will pit them against either the UAE, Lebanon, or Iraq.

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