Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Bangkok: A pair of eye-catching free-kicks from Jake Brimmer helped Australia edge out fellow quarter-finalists Japan 4-2 at Muangthong Stadium on Wednesday to claim top spot in Group B at the AFC U-16 Championship.
Cameron Joice also scored twice for Australia as Tony Vidmar's Joeys added to earlier wins over China and Hong Kong to complete a 100% group stage record ahead of Sunday's quarter-final with the runner-up from Group A.
Takumi Sasaki and Takuya Yasui scored in ether half for a much-changed Japan side, who will now face the runner-up from Group A in the weekend's quarter-finals after suffering a first defeat of the campaign having also earlier beaten both Hong Kong and China.
"We had a win, but I think we probably learnt a lot more from Japan as they are a very good footballing side as they keep possession well and their decision making and game awareness is very good and that is somewhere we would like to get to. For us, credit to the boys as they worked hard, but we would like to start to produce good football," said Australia coach Vidmar.
"We played a very good team and I think we were outplayed. There is no hiding behind that. We are still a long way off from where we can be and we will work with the players to get the best possible results. Japan have come a long way in 20 years and we are still in our infancy in our youth development and where it should be, so we should look and see what we can do better."
With Australia national team coach Ange Postecoglou in the stands at a damp Muangthong Stadium, it was Japan who made the best start on a slick and smooth playing surface.
But it was Australia who took the lead as Brimmer's 15th minute free-kick from just outside the penalty area curled out of the reach of Japan goalkeeper Seiya Inoue, who was one of nine changes made by coach Hirofumi Yoshitake following Monday's 3-0 win over China, and clipped the underside of the crossbar before bouncing down over the line.
And Australia doubled their lead 10 minutes later as Inoue came out of his area to deal with a seemingly regulation over hit through pass, but after deciding to attempt to usher the ball back into his penalty area, the Japan goalkeeper misjudged to pace of the ball on the wet surface and Joice was able to nip in and roll the ball into the empty net.
Japan, though, halved the deficit two minutes later as Sasaki converted from close range despite muted appeals for offside from Australia.
But Australia restored their two-goal advantage a minute before the hour mark as Brimmer (pictured) repeated his feat from the first half, although this time the midfielder curled his effort away from Inoue and into the far corner from an almost identical position.
The advantage, though, again did not last as Yasui swept home an angled strike past Australia goalkeeper Duro Dragicevic with 21 minutes remaining following Sasaki's deft flick on the edge of the penalty area.
But with eight minutes remaining Joice capitalised on a moment's hesitation in the Japan defence to fire across Inoue and into the far corner to seal the win.
"We had a high percentage of possession and this was how we wanted to play as they defend well, but we didn't have a good tempo in the game and I am very disappointed," said Japan coach Yoshitake.
"We play with all 23 players and all the players play with the same quality so this is not the reason we didn't play well.
"It is all positives from this match. We always learn if we win or lose so our focus is now on the next match and I would like the players to think about the positives.
"We now have three days to prepare for the next match."