SAITAMA, JAPAN (AFP) – Japan drew 1-1 with Vietnam yesterday to end their World Cup qualifying campaign on a flat note days after booking their place in Qatar.
The four-time Asian champions fell behind to a 19th-minute goal by Vietnam’s Nguyen Thanh Binh, leaving them trailing at half-time to a team that had taken just three points from nine games in Group B.
Japan captain Maya Yoshida equalised in the 54th minute but the home side could not find a winner and had a goal disallowed.
Yoshida was guilty of a shocking miss as Japan came back down to earth after qualifying for their seventh straight World Cup with a dramatic win over Australia in Sydney last week.
Japan and Saudi Arabia had already clinched the two automatic qualification spots in Group B, with Australia assured of the playoff place.
