Just 22 days ago, on the day he was announced as the new coach of the Socceroos, Tony Popovic made something very clear. Above all, “It’s always okay to win ugly.” And while he may not have picked up three points in Saitama on Tuesday night, the 1-1 draw the Australian men secured against Japan broke a perfect run of nine games, nine wins and no goals against Samurai Blue. that point in World Cup qualifying certainly felt like one. And after securing it without putting a single shot on target, the willingness to embrace the ugly became apparent. A blast in Saitama.

“It wasn’t pretty,” said Mitch Duke, who produced Australia’s only effort on target in the match with a wayward header in the 12th minute. “And we knew we just had to bunker down and do the defensive and dirty work and match it physically.”

Just before the hour mark, just after the hosts had fired the final warning salvo when Takefuso Kubo had floated a ball towards the back post which Takumi Minamino headed into the side netting, Jason Geria headed back a free ball from Japanese goalkeeper Zion Suzuki from where the ball went to headed the back post. came. Given a rare opportunity to do something other than defend, Lewis Miller’s cross from the right didn’t look all that threatening, but that didn’t stop Shogo Taniguchi from inexplicably cutting the ball into his net. 1-0 Australia. What!?!?!

Perhaps it is fitting that it was Japan themselves who broke a run of 868 minutes in qualifying without conceding, so imperious was their form during this run. And in the end it was a deficit that would last just 18 minutes, after the Australians had scored an own goal of their own when Cameron Burgess’ attempt to clear a Keito Nakamura cross instead curled past Joe Gauci. But that one moment of good fortune proved to be enough of a buffer to give the Socceroos a point away from home that few had hoped for and even fewer expected.

Pessimism about the Socceroos’ chances had only increased before kick-off after a traffic accident on the road to Saitama meant it took more than two hours to get to the match from their hotel. hour kick-off. Both the JFA and FA requested a postponement of the kick-off, only for the AFC to refuse, with the only mercy offered to the Australians being an extra five minutes to warm up.

And soon from kick-off it became clear that the Japanese not only had more speed than the Australians – both with and without the ball – but were just as threatening when the tempo was reduced, manipulating their opponent with pauses and feints that space created where there was none before.

These moments of danger occurred most often when the Socceroos attempted to play through the Japanese press, but their attempts quickly failed. Kubo often drifted inside to not only threaten when he got the ball under his feet, but also to increase the available space that could be exploited by the likes of Ritsu Doan and Minamino. Luke Brattan became the oldest player to make his debut in Socceroos history when he was asked to start in midfield as one of six changes made by Popovic, but unfortunately for him he found himself up against the best midfield in Asia.

But although the Japanese were able to dominate possession and territory, the last fatal pass or shot eluded them or was repulsed. Outside of transition moments, when they were tasked with breaking down an entrenched 5-4-1, they were dismissed with more aplomb. Apart from the own goal, the Australian defense was immense, refusing to break through wave after wave of Japanese attack and allowing just three shots on target in the entire match and less than one expected goal – Geria’s first international start to remember and Harry Souttar a tower of strength.

It was an ugly, ugly point. Although he was grateful for it, Popovic said after the match that this was just the beginning and that his team must be better in the future if they want to beat Japan. But deep down he probably also sees the beauty in it.