Russia 2018/UAE 2019 Qualifiers: Cambodia 0-2 Japan

The Cambodian midfielder’s error and Honda’s clinical header ensured Vahid Halilhodzic’s side remained one point ahead of second-placed Syria who secured a 2-1 victory in Singapore to remain hot on the heels of the four-time Asian champions.

Japan had beaten Cambodia 3-0 in September’s reverse fixture and it was they who were quickest out of the blocks at the Olympic Stadium, Leicester City striker Shinji Okazaki twisting and turning in the area on 15 minutes only to be eventually denied by Cambodia’s onrushing goalkeeper Um Sereyroth.

Roared on by a vocal home crowd, Cambodia responded through Laboravy who whipped a shot narrowly wide, only to then see Sereyroth react well in the final moments of the first period to steer Hiroki Fujiharu’s volley on to his near post and away from the danger area.

Cambodian hopes of a revival then survived by the narrowest of margins just seconds after the break as Sereyroth dived to his left to repel a 47th minute Okazaki penalty after Shinji Kagawa had been felled in the area.

The breakthrough was, however, to come for Japan just four minutes later when the unfortunate Laboravy diverted Yosuke Kashiwagi’s curling free-kick into his own net.

With time running out at the end of a somewhat uninspiring second 45 minutes of football, substitute Honda was denied by yet another magnificent Sereyroth save before sealing the victory for his side with a consummate header in the 90th minute.

The group winners and four best runners-up (total 12 teams) will advance to the 2019 AFC Asian Cup finals and the final round of qualifying for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

The next best 24 teams from the preliminary stage of the joint qualifiers will compete in a separate competition for the remaining slots (12 slots or 11 slots + 1 slot for the host) in the 24-team 2019 Asian Cup.

Photo: AFP