Ito takes it, and it’s got sting but Gauci punches it away. There are signs of desperation from Japan’s technical area, as Moriyasu gesticulates.
Japan 0-1 Australia, 75th minute
11.08pm
There’s the Australian substitution
It’s a double change, and one of them is Bos, who is replaced by Behich. Duke also makes way for Velupillay, who made his debut in Adelaide last month.
Just before that happens, Gauci makes another straightforward save to deny Tanaka.
Japan 0-1 Australia, 74th minute
11.06pm
Bos living dangerously
He went into the book in the 62nd minute for a tactical foul and is skating on thin ice. Wonder if Popovic will avert the risk and get Behich on for the last 20 minutes.
Australia have their tails up now, and are engaging in the loveliest passage of play yet, teasing their hosts on the edge of their box.
Japan try to spark something with a double substitution as Minamino and Kubo come off and are replaced by Nakamura and Kamada.
Japan 0-1 Australia, 70th minute
11.00pm
The Socceroos have never won in Japan
I repeat: the Socceroos have never won in Japan. They have not beaten Japan at all since 2009. That was only three years after Popovic stopped playing for Australia. A win in Saitama tonight would be one for the history books.
To do that, they’ll have to hold Japan out for another half an hour, and the introduction of Junya Ito for Doan could make that more difficult. Ito has an immediate effect, with a dizzying run along the right flank before whipping in a dangerous cross. Ueda gets his header on target but Gauci is straight onto it.
Japan 0-1 Australia, 65th minute
10.54pm
Goal! Own goal gives Socceroos advantage!
Wowee. That was Australia’s first shot on target, in the 58th minute.
Miller pushed forward and delivered a whizzing cross into the middle towards Duke. Duke doesn’t get there but Taniguchi does, and in trying to make the clearance, puts a volley straight past his own goalkeeper. Holy moly.
10.52pm
Movement on Japan’s bench
Some stretching and warming up. Same goes for a few Australian types, including Goodwin and Irankunda. We are creeping towards the 60th minute, after all.
Japan are still dominating possession, but it is prime for a counter-attack.
Kubo finds Minamino at the far post and he goes for the header that he can’t quite steer on target. The side netting gets a battering.
Japan 0-0 Australia, 55th minute
10.48pm
Straightforward start to second half
Little to report until the 51st minute, when Mitoma makes a break for it down the left. It starts a small flurry of Japanese action in Australia’s third but the visitors defend admirably once again.
Japan 0-0 Australia, 51st minute
Mitoma v Miller.Credit: Getty Images
10.41pm
Second half is under way
And Popovic has made a half-time change, with Brattan making way for Yazbek.
Brattan, incidentally, became the oldest Socceroos debutant to date tonight.
10.28pm
Half-time! Japan 0-0 Australia
I daresay Popovic will not be unhappy with that first 45. I also daresay his team will be tiring from the effort to withstand Japan’s - checks stats - 71 per cent possession, almost three times as many passes and six shots to one. Mind you, five of those six shots were not on target. This is shaping as a hold-it-together second half. Do that, and Australia can walk away with a point.
