Aziz Behich emerged as a hero for the Socceroos, scoring a dramatic late goal to secure victory against Japan and potentially clinch Australia’s spot in the 2026 World Cup. This match, held at Optus Stadium, saw Behich score in the 90th minute, bringing an end to a 16-year winless streak against the Japanese. He was set up by Riley McGree, producing a powerful strike that set the crowd alight and extended Tony Popovic’s undefeated run as head coach of the team.
Commentators highlighted the significance of the moment, with Simon Hill exclaiming that Behich might have just sent Australia to the World Cup, while Andy Harper praised his performance, calling him the necessary hero of the match. This victory marked Japan’s first loss in World Cup qualifying since 2021, adding to the historical significance of the encounter.
With over 57,000 fans in attendance, tension lingered throughout the match as Japan dominated possession and threatened Australia’s defence with seven shots on target compared to Australia’s two. Early on, Japan displayed their intent with a threatening effort from midfielder Yuito Suzuki that went just wide. Despite Australia’s struggles to maintain ball control, they had brief moments of opportunity, including a near miss from Connor Metcalfe.
In the second half, tactical changes were made by Popovic, but it wasn’t until Behich’s brilliant strike that Australia managed to break through. His goal brought jubilant cheers from the crowd, although the team’s World Cup qualification would not be secured until the outcome of Saudi Arabia’s upcoming match against Bahrain. The pressure on Saudi Arabia to win by a significant margin in order to challenge Australia’s qualification highlights the intensity of the competition.
Post-match, an elated Behich reflected on the moment, recalling the halftime encouragement from the coach and expressing disbelief at the magnitude of the achievement. Fans remained hopeful as they awaited confirmation of their qualification, with Behich’s goal igniting dreams of a World Cup future for Australian football once again.