Jedinak’s effort helps Australia hold Japan

MELBOURNE: Australia came from behind through a Mile Jedinak penalty to grab a 1-1 draw against Japan to remain unbeaten in Asian World Cup qualifiers in Melbourne

MELBOURNE: Australia came from behind through a Mile Jedinak penalty to grab a 1-1 draw against Japan to remain unbeaten in Asian World Cup qualifiers in Melbourne on Tuesday.

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The Blue Samurai rocked the Socceroos with a fifth-minute goal from midfielder Genki Haraguchi but skipper Jedinak retrieved a point in a tense game with his spot kick.

Australia have not beaten Japan for seven years, while the Japanese have still to win a World Cup qualifier in Australia.

Australia stay a point ahead of Japan in Group B and remain unbeaten in four qualifiers on the road to Russia 2018.

“We got caught with a sucker punch trying to force things and they sat back very deep and sweated on that pass in the middle,” Jedinak said.

“We regrouped at half-time and we were told to have a reaction. There looked like only one team winning the game, it was unfortunate we didn’t get that second goal.”

UZBEKS OUTCLASS CHINA

DOHA: China’s bid to qualify for the 2018 World Cup suffered a crushing blow after they were outclassed 2-0 by Uzbekistan in a crucial Group A Asian qualifier on Tuesday. The Chinese, who have invested heavily in football and also plan to bid for the 2030 World Cup, came apart in Tashkent with Uzbekistan scoring twice in the second half through Marat Bikaev and Otabek Shukurov.