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Mitchell Duke was one of the goal-scorers in the loss to Japan. Source: Ahn Young-joon / AP
JAPAN have ended Australia's hopes of winning the East Asian Cup with a 3-2 victory over the Socceroos at the Hwaseong Sports Complex.
The experimental Australian squad will only be playing for pride on Sunday against China after succumbing to the superiority of the well-drilled Blue Samurai, who are in the box seat to lift the trophy after becoming the first team to win a game at the four-nation tournament.
With one round of matches remaining Japan are on four points, two ahead of China and hosts South Korea, with the Socceroos sitting at the bottom with just one point from two matches.
Japan were seemingly cruising to victory, leading 2-0 with a quarter of an hour remaining thanks to goals either side of half-time from Manabu Saito and Yuya Osako.
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However, the Socceroos breathed life into the contest with two goals in the space of five minutes from Mitchell
Duke and substitute Tomi Juric, who both netted for the first time in a senior Australian jersey.
But as quick as the Socceroos had got themselves back into the match, they then allowed Japan to regain the lead through Osako, much to the frustration of coach Holger Osieck.
However, the right team won, with Japan dominating for most of the contest against an Australian side that, while better than in their first-up 0-0 draw with the South Koreans, were again second best.
Intent on giving all players in his own second-string squad an opportunity in the tournament, Japan coach Alberto Zaccheroni changed his entire starting team from the 11 who took the field in the Blue Samurai's 3-3 weekend draw with China.
In contrast, Osieck named the same starting side for the second match in a row.
"There are a lot of players that I need to see play again in this very competitive environment," Osieck said.
The Blue Samurai had the first chance of the contest in the seventh minute thanks to a weaving from attacker Saito.
Having worked his way into the Socceroos' penalty area, Saito's floated a dangerous ball to the back post, where an unmarked Yamada Hiroki unleashed with a first-time shot that deflected wide for a corner.
The Socceroos defence was again stretched in the 22nd minute but a last-gasp challenge from Jade North ensured Yohei Toyoda could not get a clean shot away when he seemed certain to test Australian goalkeeper Eugene Galekovic.
But Japan's pressure finally told four minutes later, with Japan taking the lead after a sublime piece of skill Saito.
Teasing the tentative Socceroos defence on the edge of the penalty area with a horizontal run, Saito stood up North before taking advantage of space afforded to him by Michael Thwaite with a clever finish that was too good for the exposed Galekovic.
The Blue Samurai should have doubled their lead in the 36th minute when Toyoda was allowed to rise for an easy header on the edge of the six-yard box.
But much to the Socceroos' relief, Toyoda directed his header straight into the arms of Eugene Galekovic.
The Socceroos rarely penetrated in the first half, with the best chances coming from headers from Thwaite and Mark Milligan the both sailed over the crossbar.
Matt McKay also failed to hit the target with a volley five minutes before half-time.
Osako then doubled Japan's lead in the 55th minute, before the Socceroos' fightback made for a tighter-than-expected finish.
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