SUITA, Japan: Issam al Sabhi struck two minutes from time as Oman claimed a shock 1-0 win over Japan to begin the AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to Qatar campaign with a three-point haul at Suita Stadium in Osaka on Thursday.
Al Sabhi swept home Salah Al Yahyaei’s cross from the right to hand the Japanese their first defeat in nine games in qualifying for Qatar 2022 and leave Hajime Moriyasu and his team on the back foot after Matchday One of the AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to Qatar.
The loss came after the Japanese had earlier seen a penalty decision given against them overturned after referee Mohammad Abdulla Hassan initially awarded a spot-kick to Branko Ivankovic’s side nine minutes into the second half.
The ball had hit Yuto Nagatomo on the arm, but replays showed there was little the left-back could do about the incident and referee Hassan changed the decision when he viewed the pitch side monitor.
It was a rare moment of drama in a tense game that only came to life in the late exchanges as the rain steadily fell to make conditions difficult for both teams.
It was the visitors who put the Japanese defence under pressure in the opening moments, giving the Samurai Blue cause for concern when Khalid al Hajri held off Naomichi Ueda before slipping a clever pass into the path of Rabi al Alawi. He forced Shuichi Gonda into an unconvincing save, the goalkeeper parrying the ball away for a corner.
Harib al Saadi tried his luck from distance soon after, with his right foot drive deflected wide as Oman put pressure on a disjointed Japan.
The Samurai Blue slowly clawed their way into the game, stroking the ball around inside the Oman half, and their growing control almost paid off when Maya Yoshida’s pinpoint pass was controlled by Junya Ito, but the winger’s goal-bound effort was slapped away by Fayez al Rushaidi.
Kyogo Furuhashi’s introduction at half-time for the ineffective Genki Haraguchi gave Japan a boost and Wataru Endo had a sight of goal three minutes after the restart that was blocked by the Omani defence.
Nagatomo was then left protesting his innocence after referee Hassan pointed to the spot before reversing his decision to leave the scores level with more than half an hour remaining.
Ali al Busaidi thumped his shot into Gonda on the hour mark as Oman again found a way past Japan’s static defence while Osako looked set to put Japan ahead with 22 minutes remaining, the Vissel Kobe striker hitting a curling a low shot that was destined for the corner before Al Rushaidi palmed to safety.
The teams appeared set to share the points until Al Yahyaei galloped down the right and sent in an inviting cross that Al Sabhi, evading the attentions of a hesitant Ueda, swept home to give Oman an emotional win. — AFC
