Japan's draw with Saudi Arabia creates complex World Cup qualification process for Socceroos after win over China
The Socceroos walked off the pitch in Hangzhou with a bittersweet feeling as Japan's shock draw took some of the shine off Australia's 2-0 win over China.
Tony Popovic's men needed the win against China and for Japan to defeat Saudi Arabia in a match that started half an hour earlier in order for Australia to push six points clear in Group C. Instead, Saudi Arabia held their rivals to a surprise 0-0 draw.
Now the Socceroos have a three-point lead on third-placed Saudi Arabia, meaning they'll need to take four points from their final two matches — against Saudi Arabia and Japan — to guarantee qualification.
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Nishan Velupillay celebrates his goal with Aziz Behich. Getty
That scenario changes if Saudi Arabia fails to beat Bahrain because the Socceroos' much stronger goal difference would likely guarantee second place.
Japan, which sits seven points ahead of the Socceroos in first, has already qualified for the World Cup.
"They'll head into the June window with their fate in their own hands," caller Simon Hill said of the Socceroos on Paramount+.
Australia was sharp from kick off in Hangzhou and it was Jackson Irvine scoring first with a left-footed strike inside the box after 16 minutes.
The Socceroos made it 2-0 in the 29th minute when Nishan Velupillay's shot found the back of the net after an awful mistake from Chinese goalkeeper Dalei Wang. The shot was directed right at the goalkeeper who couldn't take a simple, clean catch, handing his rivals a decent lead.
China came out of half-time the more threatening, throwing everything at the Socceroos.
However, it came to nothing with a final 2-0 scoreline bringing near silence across the ground despite a massive presence.
The result makes it two wins in this international window for the Socceroos after a 5-1 victory over Indonesia.
Player of the match against China Jackson Irvine was delighted with his side's campaign.
"We came in with a top mentality to this camp. We knew what was at stake, two massive games for us and everybody's produced, every single player, staff across the board ... it's been a massive effort to get these two results," he said.
