Saudi Arabia held off a dominant Japan to pick up a much-needed point on Tuesday as Herve Renard’s side drew 0-0 with the Samurai Blue at Saitama Stadium in Group C of the AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to 26. The Green Falcons picked up their fourth point of the window after defeating China 2-0 in Riyadh on Thursday and now sit on 10 points in the quest for the remaining automatic berth at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Japan continue to lead Group C having dropped points for only the second time in the campaign, the draw moving Hajime Moriyasu’s already-qualified Samurai Blue onto 20 points from eight games. Assured of a FIFA World Cup ticket, the hosts dominated despite the six changes Moriyasu made to the team that confirmed the nation’s progress to an eighth consecutive finals with victory over Bahrain on Thursday. Daichi Kamada, who scored Japan’s opener in the previous match at Saitama Stadium, replaced Takumi Minamino in the starting line-up while Yukinari Sugawara, Kota Takai, Ao Tanaka, Keito Nakamura and Daizen Maeda were all drafted into the starting line-up. It was Maeda who went closest to putting the home side in front, latching onto Kamada’s incisive through ball in the ninth minute to thump a first-time shot beyond Nawaf Al Aqidi, only to rattle the left post. Two minutes later the Celtic man was almost in again, this time failing to make the most of Nakamura’s ball across the face of goal as the Reims winger burst into space behind the Saudi defence. Maeda’s energy and pressing was causing concern for the visitors and he almost benefited with 18 minutes on the clock, picking up possession close to Al Aqidi’s goal but his attempt was too close to the goalkeeper. The Saudis had had little joy in the opening quarter of the game as Japan dominated, with Mohannad Al Shanqiti’s header over Zion Suzuki’s crossbar a rare sight of goal. Normal service resumed soon after when Takefusa Kubo’s shot from distance cleared the bar. (AFC)
