Saudi Arabia, which failed to return to winning ways after losing to Japan 0-2 in the last round, raised its score to 5 points in third place, equal to fourth place with Bahrain, and behind Australia, second with the same number of points, knowing that the latter tied with Japan 1-1, the leader with a score. 10 points.
The “Green” match, which was held in front of 35,437 thousand fans in… Radiant Jewel Stadium,waste Salem Al-Dosari A penalty kick was saved by Bahraini goalkeeper Ibrahim Lotfallah (17).
This is the third penalty kick missed by Saudi players in the last three matches.
Japan continued its good journey towards qualifying for the 2026 World Cup in football, despite drawing with its guest Australia 1-1 in Saitama.
Australia has not yet succeeded in winning on Japanese soil, but Shogo Taniguchi’s own goal in the 58th minute gave the Socceroos hope of achieving an unprecedented result in front of 60,000 spectators.
It is Australia’s fourth point in two matches after Tony Popovic was appointed to replace Graham Arnold, who resigned last month following a poor start in the third round.
The champion and runner-up of the three groups qualify for the World Cup, and two other places are available in the fourth round for six teams that occupy third and fourth places, with the possibility of the finalists reaching nine via a global playoff.
Japan started the match with a great score, with three victories and a clean February against 14 goals in its possession, but the own goal ended its entire score.
Australia’s last victory over Japan was in 2009 in Melbourne (2-0).
China achieved its first victory in the third round over Indonesia 2-1 in the bottom-of-the-group struggle, leaving the two teams equal on three points.
China took the lead with a brace from Zhang Yuning (44′) and Bahram Abdouli (21), while Indonesia responded with a late goal through Tom Hay (86), which was not enough.
