AFC Asian Qualifiers
The win came courtesy of a late Junya Ito goal and was Japan’s third in a row in the AFC Asian Qualifiers - Road to Qatar 2022. Coupled with Australia’s 1-1 draw with China PR in Sharjah, the result sees Moriyasu’s team move into the second place in Group B behind leaders Saudi Arabia with four games remaining.
The first two finishers in the continent’s two preliminary groups will progress to next year’s Finals while the third-placed team will advance into a series of playoffs for a possible fifth Asian berth at the FIFA World Cup.
"It was a really tough match but our persistence and determination to win led to that goal,” said Moriyasu. “We moved up to second but if we let our guard down positions can change again."
#AsianQualifiers - Group B : Oman 0 - 1 Japan
Ito scored nine minutes from time after the half-time introduction of Kaoru Mitoma from the bench for Gaku Shibasaki swung the game in Japan’s favour, and Moriyasu hailed the collective spirit within his squad for the victory.
“This result didn’t come just from the players out on the pitch, but also the players on the bench and all the players that have supported the squad, whether they played or not,” he said.
“Everybody is working hard day-by-day and that gave the players on the pitch the energy and power to perform. Today was definitely a difficult match but the players kept pushing for the victory and eventually the goal came.
“I felt we were moving the ball well in the first half, but I wanted to make sure that would lead to the goal we needed and I think we were able to create more chances from out wide with the introduction of Kaoru Mitoma that really helped strengthen those wide areas.”
Oman head coach Branko Ivankovic was left frustrated as his team slipped further adrift in the battle for automatic qualification.
Saudi Arabia lead the group with 16 points from their first six games, four more than second-placed Japan while Australia are in third on 11 points. Oman now sit in fourth, still on seven points and next face the Saudis on January 27.
“We were unfortunate to lose the match and we couldn't dedicate the win for Omani people who were celebrating the national team,” said Ivankovic.
“I'm satisfied with some aspects of the match but I don't want to talk more until we analyse what happened. Japan scored from a mistake we made and this is football as goals come off mistakes.
“It's not easy to maintain the same form throughout the 90 minutes especially against a team like Japan, who are one of the best teams in Asia.
“We still have a chance and we will work until the last match of these qualifiers.”
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