There was nothing to split the CommBank Pararoos and Japan in their IFCPF Men’s World Cup 2024 encounter with the match concluding at 1-all.
With both sides out of the finals race and only looking to improve their ranking at the World Cup, no extra time is permitted for placement finals. The CommBank Pararoos will now prepare to face Thailand on Friday 22 November at 12.30pm CET (10.30pm AEDT) for 13th place.
Under lights for the first time at Futbol Salou, Spain, the CommBank Pararoos emerged with a steely look in their eyes as they looked to generate some momentum late in the tournament.
Despite boasting a 7-1 victory in their most recent meeting in 2023, the early stages of the matches suggested an entirely different encounter as genuine chances were sparce.
With David Barber barking instructions at the back of the field, the Australians controlled territory and dominated possession in the first half but the possession wasn’t translating into goals.
Long-range shots from outside the box became the go-to option for the Australian attack with the tight Japan defence continuously repelling their expeditions towards the goals.
The first half came and went without a goal scored making for a crucial 30 minutes in the final period for both sides.
With the second half underway and nightfall well and truly eclipsing the venue, the spectators whee nervously waiting to see who would emerge from the shadows victorious.
Japan would strike first in the 36th minute following a free kick which curled into the top corner much to the bemusement of the CommBank Pararoos’ defence leaving them with no choice but to chase the match.
As it has been many times for Australia this World Cup, it was Augustine Murphy who stepped up, firing the critical shot on goal for Will McGrath to score his first international goal off the rebound.
With the scores once again level and no extra time at this stage of the competition, the intensity hit a new height as the CommBank Pararoos ramped up the attack and the Japanese scrambled to keep them contained.
However the match-winning goal continued to elude them with desperate attempts narrowly sailing wide and the Japan defence doing enough to keep the scores level.
Match Summary
Australia: 1 (12. William McGrath 48′)
Japan: 1 (4. Tetsuya Toda 36′)
Australia: 7. David Barber (GK) (C), 2. Rafferty Bacon (3. Kaylan Van Heer 41′), 4. Alessandro La Verghetta (10. Benny Roche 51′), 14. Augustine Murphy, 11. Jeremy Boyce, 9. Luc Launder (12. William McGrath 41′), 13. Taj Lynch
Substitutes not used: 8. Christian Bitsikas, 1. Christian Tsangas (GK), 5. Daniel Campbell, 6. Giacomo Izzo
Japan: 1. Hideyuki Yanagi (GK), 3. Shun Yokozawa, 4. Tetsuya Toda (C), 5. Ryosuke Muira, 8. Tatsuhiro Ura, 11. Hiroto Kageyama, 13. Toya Mori
Substitutes not used: 2. Taisei Taniguchi, 6. Kenichiro Akahage, 7. Tomohisa Ono, 9. Yamato Motonoakno, 12. Riku Nanjo (GK), 14. Riku Kono
