Australia v Japan - Live Match Update
Don't miss all the action of Australia's match with Japan with our Live Match Update of right here from 8.00pm.
Full time: Australia 2-1
Australia finish the group on top of the table with a five point margin over Japan.
There goes the final whistle and two Tim Cahill goals wins it for Australia. Terrific second half performance to come from behind and maintain Australia's unbeaten round 4 qualifying campaign.
Two minutes of injury time
90' Free kick to Japan - wide on right... Schwarzer takes supremely.
88' Shot - Tamada shot from 25 metres is comfortably saved by Schwarzer.
Vidosic making his international debut.
86' Aust sub - Cahill off - Dario Vidosic on
85' Japan sub - Hashimoto off - Shinzo Koroki on
84' Shot - Nakamura - deflected wide for a corner.
82' Shot - Yano - goes over the bar
79' Aust subs - Williams & Carle off - Jacob Burns & Scott McDonald on
In a repeat of Germany 2006, Cahill has scored a double to put Australia in front when he comes in at the far post from Carle's inswinging corner to stab the ball home.
77' Goal - Cahill
76' Shot - Carle - terrific shot turned around the post by Narazaki.
75' Narazaki out well to save just in front of Kennedy.
72' Offside - Cahill
Japan pressing a little more.
68' Japan sub - Matsui off - Kisho Yano on
65' Foul on Kennedy wide on left. Carle's cross finds Cahill free but he is pulled up for handball.
62' Shot - Tamada is mishit on the half volley and cleared up field.
Cahill climbs at back post to meet free kick from Vince Grella and he lobs his header over Narazaki and inside the far post.
59' Goal - Cahill
58' Shot - Okazaki shot after cutting in, saved easily by Schwarzer
56' Shot - Matsui tries a shot from 25 metres that goes well over the bar.
55' Shot - Sterjovski's glancing header at near post goes just over the bar from Culina's corner.
54' Corner - Aust
51' Shot - Neill - easily wide after Carle's ball into the middle is only partially stopped by Japan.
50' Free kick to Australia - 25 out after handball by Uchida.
49' Carle great skill on left which has the crowd cheering.
48' Shot - Sterjovski shot blocked
48' Corner to Aust - Culina cross is cleared.
Australia kick off the second half.
Second half is about to get underway
Half time - Japan leads 1-0 thanks to a powerful header by Marcus Tanaka and Australia for the first time in a long time find themselves down a goal. Mark Schwarzer's record of clean sheets is broken. Australia has it all to do in the second half.
46'+ Shot - Tamada - cleared brilliantly off the line by a retreating Lucas Neill.
45' Foul - Grella on Matsui on the edge of the box.
44' Cahill bundles the referee the over
41' Shot - Kennedy - from acute angle is cleared away by Japan defence.
40' Shot - Sterjovkski - almost has it level from the kick-off and forces a good save from Narazaki
Goal - Tanaka - powerfully heads home corner
39' Corner - Japan
38' Neill clears dangerous cross from the left.
36' Carle pulled up for a handball after Kennedy flicked a header on into the box.
34' Culina tries a flick for Stefanutto into the box, but just a touch too hard
30' Foul - Neill fouls Narazaki from Culina's cross into the box.
30' Kennedy win free kick, 35 out in the left channel.
Japan having the better of play at the moment with Australia struggling to get decent possession.
24' Free kick - Japan in dangerous position after Grella gave away foul. Cross cleared but attempted shot is deflected wide by Stefanutto for a corner.
21' North clears dangerous cross, after Okazuki got past Stefanutto and aimed his cross at Tamada at near post.
Japan as expected are lively and good on the ball
19' Schwarzer makes a meal of his attempted clearance and allows Japan to cross and Matsui heads well over the bar.
Play settled down now as both teams try to settle into a rhythm.
Good fast tempo to the opening of this game.
10' Corner - Australia - Carle's corner punched clear by Narazaki
8' Shot - Carle's corner is met by Cahill, but he can't head it goalwards from right in front.
Double chance for Australia, with Cahill having a shot saved by Narazaki and then Sterjovski seconds later saw his goalbound shot deflected inches over the bar.
7' Goal... oh no how did that stay out from Sterjovski.
6' Williams down the right, cross finds Carle who almost puts Kennedy through.
5' Carle brought down by Matsui on touchline
2' Carle makes a lunge and gives away free kick wide on right... free kick cleared away by
2' Kennedy gives away free kick
Japan kicks-off
Referee is Khalil Al Ghamdi (Saudi Arabia)
The national anthems are being sung and we are just minutes from kick-off.
Over 70,000 fans are in attendance at the MCG for this big clash.
A draw or win by Australia will guarantee top spot on the Group A table, while a win by Japan will see them finish first.
Lucas Neill returns for his 50th A-International cap, along with Tim Cahill and Josh Kennedy. Rhys Williams makes his international debut at right back with Jade North coming in next to Neill in centre of defence. Shane Stefanutto is left back with Carney dropping to the bench. Nick Carle gets a rare start in Kewell's absence, with Kennedy playing the lone role up front in place of Scott McDonald.
Japan captain Nakazawa has failed to recover from the flu and is one of five changes from the team that drew 1-1 at home against Qatar. Also missing are stars Shunsuke Nakamura and Yasuhito Endo.
Team News
Australian line-up:
Mark Schwarzer (gk); Rhys Williams, Lucas Neill, Jade North, Shane Stefanutto, Jason Culina, Vince Grella, Mile Stejovski, Tim Cahill, Nick Carle, Josh KennedyJapan line-up: Seigo Narazaki (gk); Marcus Tanaka, Yasuyuti Konno, Yuto Nagatomo, Atsuto Uchida, Daisuke Matsui, Keiji Tamada, Shinji Okazaki, Kengo Nakamura, Hideo Hashimoto, Yuki Abe
And if you can't watch the match LIVE on FOX SPORTS, you can get all the action with our Live Match Update right here. All the action and stats as it happens with kick-off at 8.20pm. Our coverage will commence at approximately 8.00pm with all the latest team news.
Head-to-head record: Played 17: Australia wins 6, Japan wins 5 (drawn matches: 6)