Qatar, Japan draw 1-1 in World Cup qualifier

Thursday 11th June, 07:00 AM JST

YOKOHAMA —

Japan had its World Cup qualification celebrations dampened Wednesday as the three-time Asian champions were held to a surprise 1-1 draw at home to Qatar in their penultimate Group A qualifier.

An own goal from Ahmed Ali Albinali gave Japan the perfect start at Nissan Stadium but Ali Yahya struck from the penalty spot early in the second half to give the visitors a share of the spoils.

‘‘We couldn’t get the right result at home for the fans and I am sorry for that,’’ said Japan coach Takeshi Okada, who was forced to watch from the stands after he was ejected from the dugout in Saturday’s 1-0 win away to Uzbekistan.

‘‘We can learn some lessons from this kind of game and we have to move on.’‘

Midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura added, ‘‘Even though some new players came in today I thought we would move better, me included. We tried too hard to force the pace after scoring early on. It’s a disappointing result.’‘

The result left Japan trailing Group A leaders Australia, their final opponents next week in Melbourne, by two points after the Socceroos improved to 17 points from seven games, thanks to a 2-0 win over Bahrain.

Bahrain has seven points while eliminated Qatar have six from eight games and last-placed Uzbekistan have four. Bahrain host Uzbekistan next Wednesday.

With Makoto Hasebe suspended for two matches and Yuto Nagatomo (ankle) and Yasuhito Endo (hamstring) both nursing injuries, Okada was forced to make a handful of changes to the side that beat Uzbekistan to become the first team to join hosts South Africa at next year’s finals.

Meanwhile, Qatar coach Bruno Metsu reckons Okada has set the bar too high in targeting a place in the semifinals of next year’s World Cup in South Africa, saying Japan does not have enough muscle under pressure to reach the last four of soccer’s showcase event.

‘‘Japan’s technical level is good but they need to be more physical to carry the game, especially when they are under pressure,’’ Metsu said after Wednesday night’s game.

‘‘The Japanese players still struggle to find solutions in pressure situations. They don’t know what to do and this is something that has to be developed and practiced in the year before the World Cup.’‘

Wire reports

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Latest 15 of 21 Total Comments Show All

stirfry at 12:06 PM JST - 11th June

hahahahahahahaha this is great...after that male bimbo shot off his mouth yesterday
northlondon at 12:20 PM JST - 11th June

Well considering he's the guy who brought Senegal to Quarter Final at WC2002... I would say "he knows what he's talking about" unlike you ... :)

..who is now coach of Qatar. Landed on his feet by inheriting the best Senegal talent ever. He resigned from the UAE job after 13 wins, 9 draws and 20 losses, scoring 47 goals and conceding 59.
daisan at 12:35 PM JST - 11th June

Whoever paid for that huge "best 4" flag must be feeling very stupid, that's just evil marketing trying to make people believe that their lousy team can actually make it into the best 4 of the world when they cannot defeat Qatar.

They love the drama and they'll have plenty of it in the world cup that's for sure. Just like they keep on repeating over and over again how they lost the qualifiers in 94.

Nakamura looks worn out and with a year to go he might not reach the world cup. And what is it with Tulio? he's one of the best players and the fighter of the team, maybe that's his brazilian side, but he is always trying to make everything by himself that's just poor coaching.

Let's see what happens next week in Australia, and they'll visit the Netherlands in summer, hope both teams use their best players.
rafraf128 at 01:27 PM JST - 11th June

i may say " japanese are attention seekers" all they do is blah-blah and cry when they lose ,then cry more when the win ( really insecure)
northlondon at 01:41 PM JST - 11th June

I am amazed at the anti-Japanese reaction on this site. There is clearly some real dislike of anything Japanese.

" japanese are attention seekers" all they do is blah-blah and cry when they lose ,then cry more when the win ( really insecure)

crybabies, melo drama queens

All Okada said was that they could learn lessons from last night and move on. Nakamura admitted that it was a dissapointing result. Now how does that modesty justify the bitchy little remarks made above ?
aintgottimetobl at 01:46 PM JST - 11th June

they acknowledged that they played poorly and were disappointing,and you view this as insecure crying ?? Hard to have that..
bdaniel08 at 10:31 PM JST - 11th June

Like he is someone that has achieved anything in football

What about that Okada ?

He is someone famous for having been already elimined in the first round (so it will be his second time)...and for having "pushed" Nakahata to his early retirement.

For one man, thats a lot !
northlondon at 12:15 AM JST - 12th June

What about that Okada ?

Unlike Bruno Metsu, Okada hasn't criticised other teams. Okada got Japan into next years World Cup Finals. Metsu did not manage to do that with Qatar, yet feels the need to criticise Japan ! Okada should be respected as the first coach to get Japan qualified for the World Cup Finals in France in 1998 and now he has done it again. Even Troussier got a bye as Japan hosted the World Cup in 2002.

for having "pushed" Nakahata to his early retirement.

More football illiteracy. That was because of Zico's Japan in the 2006 World Cup Finals in Germany. Nothing to do with Okada. Nakata Hide retired in 2006. Okada took over from Osic in 2007.
bdaniel08 at 05:37 AM JST - 12th June

Metsu didnt criticized Japan, he only said he felt Okada estimation a little too high...

As for the qualification of Japan in 2002, Okada was ousted in the first round, Troussier went to the next round and Metsu him, to the quarter final...for both, thats was a respectable result.

For Nakahata, my mistake...age is sometime a trichery path !
bdaniel08 at 05:46 AM JST - 12th June

"More football illiteracy" :

When your team cant win against a -notevenqualified-adversary, to speak about "diabolical refereeing"...it is a summum !
Osakadaz at 09:29 AM JST - 12th June

Japan are OK.My own Australia hasn't exactly been mesmerising to watch,but I think we will take it to Japan next Wednesday.Highly anticipating it and so is my Japanese wife..have locked up the kendo sword for 'safe-keeping' lol
northlondon at 10:49 AM JST - 12th June

When your team cant win against a -notevenqualified-adversary, to speak about "diabolical refereeing"...

'My' team are England, who have won all 7 World Cup qualification games. The diabolical refereeing took part in Japan's last two games and I am merely defending the over-the-top anti-Japanese tirade going on here.
smithinjapan at 08:38 PM JST - 12th June

"Yet again, diabolical refereeing. No way was that a penalty and Japan should have won last night. I tell you now, next year's World Cup is going to be ruined by poor refereeing, mainly the inexperienced ones from Asia like last night."

Oh please... are you prepping us on what to hear in 2010 if Japan fares badly? I mean, if they play like they played today.

Let's face it, Japan has gotten NOWHERE in the past few years and they have not improved. The only goal they got in last night's game was a goal by Qatar's own player!! They don't have the strikers to do well enough, although I think their defense is pretty strong. I hope they put up a better fight than they have in the last two WCs. Japan always has baseball to fall back on, but I'd like them to get through the first stage at the very least, and they won't do it playing like they have been thus far.
smithinjapan at 08:39 PM JST - 12th June

Sorry, that should read: "I mean, if they play like they played THIS GAME".
hoserfella at 03:27 PM JST - 15th June

Japan sucks and will be out 1st round. They have regressed since the Toussier (sp?) days. And Northlondon- I would'nt crow too much about 7-0 against the likes of mighty Andorra, Belarus and Borat's Kazakhstan (sexy time!)