Honda key to Japan hopes

Tokyo, Aug. 29: Keisuke Honda is out to be a hero again for Japan against Australia in Thursday’s crunch World Cup qualifier while South Korea will hope to secure a berth in Russia next year when they face Iran.

Midfield stalwart Honda’s 91st-minute penalty at Saitama four years ago secured a 1-1 draw against the Socceroos and with it Japan’s place at Brazil 2014.

A win for the Blue Samurai in the penultimate round of Asian zone matches would see the Group B leaders guaranteed a place in the next year’s finals.

Any other result would leave their fortunes in the balance ahead of their final game against secondplaced Saudi Arabia in Jeddah next week.

They lead third-placed Australia by just one point, with the Saudis, who face the UAE in Al Ain on Thursday, also lurking just one point behind.

The former AC Milan midfielder Honda, 31, who now plays for Pachuca in Mexico, is not an automatic choice for Japan these days but is itching for a chance to repeat his heroics at the same Saitama Thursday.

“Obviously the situation is different to what it was four years ago but the essence is the same.

“There are no mind games. We just have to be bold and get the job done,” said Honda.

South Korean manager Shin Tae-Yong is boosted by the return to fitness of Tottenham Hotspur’s prolific striker Son HeungMin for the Group A fixtures at home against Asia’s top ranked and an already-qualified Iran. stadium on