Australis's Mark Bresciano, left, fights for the ball with Japan's Yasuhito Endo, (7), during their soccer match for the World Cup Asia final qualifying in Yokohama, near Tokyo, Japan, Wednesday.
/ AP photo
TOKYO (AP) — Australia took a major step toward qualifying for the 2010 World Cup by securing a scoreless draw away at Japan on Wednesday in a key Asian qualifier.
The result maintained unbeaten Australia's two-point lead atop Group 1 halfway through the last full round of qualifying. The Socceroos, with 10 points, have three of their last four matches at home.
The top two teams in the group qualify automatically for the World Cup.
Japan has eight points and still is in prime position to qualify from the five-team group, with a four-point cushion to third-placed Qatar.
"I think 0-0 away to Japan is a great result," Australia coach Pim Verbeek said in a post-match television interview.
"The reality that we did not have any preparation but we saw how professional the players were even with the eight hours' time difference they were very tired."
Japan had its best scoring chances in the second half at Nissan Stadium and controlled much of the possession, but was often stifled by Australia's packed defense and midfield.
"It was a home game that we should have won," said Japan defender Yuji Nakazawa. "We created a lot of chances in the game and didn't get the result we wanted but have to stay positive for the next game."
Australia, which maintained its record of not conceding a goal in its four group games, fielded a largely defensive lineup and managed to keep Japan at arm's length in a sluggish first half. Japan manager Takeshi Okada brought Wolfsburg striker Yoshito Okubo on early in the second half in an attempt to create more scoring chances and the move paid off.
Yasuhito Endo came close in the 69th minute with a blast from the top of the area that Australia goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer deflected over the bar. Keiji Tamada had a free header from a Yuta Nagatomo cross 10 minutes later but could not get downward pressure and the shot sailed inches over the bar.
The hosts came closest in the 86th minute when Makoto Hasebe's goal-bound close-range shot deflected off Okubo and wide of the post.
Australia, still without veteran stars Harry Kewell and Mark Viduka as they make their way back from injury, wore black armbands during the match and both teams observed a moment's silence before kickoff as a memorial to those killed in the wildfires in Australia.
Japan, which was also held to a draw in its previous home game against Uzbekistan but has won both its away games, next hosts Bahrain on March 28, when Australia will have the bye.
Wednesday's game was the latest installment in a growing rivalry between the two nations. Australia beat Japan 3-1 in the group stage of the 2006 World Cup in Germany, while Japan knocked Australia out of the 2007 Asian Cup with a penalty shootout win in the quarterfinals.
