Japan qualifies for World Cup, beats Australia 2-0

Japan qualified for the World Cup by beating Asian champion Australia 2-0 on Thursday.

The Japanese, who reached for their sixth straight World Cup, got goals from Takuma Asano and Yosuke Ideguchi to improve to 20 points in Group B. Australia can still qualify if it clinches second place.

Yuto Nagatomo set up the first goal in 41st minute, sending a cross into the box that an unmarked Asano calmly sidefooted past Australia goalkeeper Mathew Ryan.

“Yuto made a great play to get me the ball,” Asano said. “I was thrilled to contribute to the team in such a big game and want to thank the coach for showing confidence in me.”

Looking to create more chances, Australia coach Ange Postecoglou sent in Tomi Juric and Tim Cahill in the second half.

Instead, Ideguchi scored another for Japan in the 83rd when he sent an angled shot past the outstretched arms of Ryan for his first goal with national team.

With 20 points, Japan is four points ahead of Australia and Saudi Arabia. Japan travels to Saudi Arabia for its final group game on 5 September. Australia faces last-place Thailand on the same day.

Syria one win from advancing from World Cup qualifying group

Syria is one victory away from advancing from its World Cup qualifying group, with an automatic spot at the 2018 tournament in Russia still possible.

The war-torn country’s national soccer team beat Qatar 31 yesterday in Malaysia, moving into third place in the six-team Group A of Asian qualifying.

If the Syrians beat Iran in their final group match on Tuesday, they will be guaranteed to finish in third place in the group, earning at least a playoff against the third-place team in Group B. But Syria could finish second and qualify directly for next year’s tournament depending on the result of the match between South Korea and Uzbekistan.

Syria has never before qualified for the World Cup.

Qatar, which will stage the 2022 tournament, has been eliminated from contention and will instead make its World Cup debut as the host nation in five years.

Because of the ongoing war in Syria, the national soccer team has been forced to play its home games in southeast Asia.