A goalless draw against Saudi Arabia at Tokyo's National Stadium earned Japan a berth in the football tournament of next year's Beijing Olympic Games.
Needing just a point to progress to a fourth straight finals, Yasuharu Sorimachi's team picked up the result they needed in front of a full house at the venue used for the 1964 Tokyo Games.
The result means the Japanese, who won the bronze medal in Mexico in 1968, take Group C's one and only spot in the finals, finishing two points head of the Saudis.
Victory over Qatar on Saturday saw Saudi Arabia go into the game knowing they needed to win to progress to the finals for the first time since 1996.
And it was Nasser Al Johar's side who looked most likely to score in the opening exchanges when, in the ninth minute, Majed Rafa Al Amri's shot was fumbled by Shusaku Nishikawa before Saleh Al Ghwainim's attempt was cleared off the line by Toshihiro Aoyama.
The onus was squarely on the Saudis going forward and the Gulf side controlled the majority of possession.
That left the Japanese attempting to hit the visitors on the break. And in the 27th minute Tadanari Lee sent his long-range attempt just wide of Waleed Ali's right post while the Kashiwa Reysol striker's close-range header three minutes before the break was just too high.
The Japanese started the second half in determined fashion and within five minutes of the restart Shinji Okazaki chested down Yosuke Kashiwaki's cross before seeing his follow-up shot saved by Ali.
Five minutes later Hajime Hosogai shot straight at Ali as Sorimachi's team turned the screw.
Not for the first time in this campaign, though, the Japanese were unable to turn their possession into goals, although they came close again 12 minutes with the move of the match.
Okazaki collected the ball 40 yards from the Saudi goal before feeding his pass through to Lee, who found Kashiwaki in the penalty area and his lay off was met by the advancing Okazaki, but his attempt was woefully over the bar.
The Japanese had to endure a jittery closing few minutes but the Saudis were unable to fashion any clear-cut opportunities, leaving Sorimachi and his team to celebrate qualification in front of their own fans.
The result means the Japanese, who won the bronze medal in Mexico in 1968, take Group C's one and only spot in the finals, finishing two points head of the Saudis.
Victory over Qatar on Saturday saw Saudi Arabia go into the game knowing they needed to win to progress to the finals for the first time since 1996.
And it was Nasser Al Johar's side who looked most likely to score in the opening exchanges when, in the ninth minute, Majed Rafa Al Amri's shot was fumbled by Shusaku Nishikawa before Saleh Al Ghwainim's attempt was cleared off the line by Toshihiro Aoyama.
The onus was squarely on the Saudis going forward and the Gulf side controlled the majority of possession.
That left the Japanese attempting to hit the visitors on the break. And in the 27th minute Tadanari Lee sent his long-range attempt just wide of Waleed Ali's right post while the Kashiwa Reysol striker's close-range header three minutes before the break was just too high.
The Japanese started the second half in determined fashion and within five minutes of the restart Shinji Okazaki chested down Yosuke Kashiwaki's cross before seeing his follow-up shot saved by Ali.
Five minutes later Hajime Hosogai shot straight at Ali as Sorimachi's team turned the screw.
Not for the first time in this campaign, though, the Japanese were unable to turn their possession into goals, although they came close again 12 minutes with the move of the match.
Okazaki collected the ball 40 yards from the Saudi goal before feeding his pass through to Lee, who found Kashiwaki in the penalty area and his lay off was met by the advancing Okazaki, but his attempt was woefully over the bar.
The Japanese had to endure a jittery closing few minutes but the Saudis were unable to fashion any clear-cut opportunities, leaving Sorimachi and his team to celebrate qualification in front of their own fans.
Copyright (c) Press Association
Related Articles
Socceroos bid to avoid World Cup calamity
Muscat sounds Socceroos warning as Samurai Blue bid to deliver brutal blow
