Australia’s hopes of direct World Cup qualification took a big hit, as Takuma Asano’s 41st minute goal and a late screamer from Yosuke Ideguchi ensured the Samurai Blue will be at Russia 2018, triggering wild celebrations among the boisterous 59,492-strong crowd at Saitama Stadium.

But the Socceroos’ own hopes of making a fourth successive appearance at the global showpiece are in a precarious position after a lifeless performance from Ange Postecoglou’s men.

Stand-in skipper Mark Milligan admitted players didn’t live up to the occasion.

“We knew what was on the line tonight and we set up in a way when these big games do come along, it’s nothing out of the ordinary,” he said.

“It’s hard to pinpoint at the moment, there is a lot of disappointment.

“We need to regroup as we have another massive match coming up in Australia.”

Australia now must beat Thailand – preferably by a hefty margin – on Tuesday night at AAMI Park and hope Japan avoid defeat against Saudi Arabia in Jeddah on Wednesday morning, Australian time.

If the Saudis win, goal difference will determine whether the Socceroos will have to negotiate two further two-legged play-offs.

A draw against Thailand would require Saudi Arabia to lose to Japan for Australia to lock in their spot.

The Socceroos were dealt a huge blow before the match with Premier League star Aaron Mooy ruled out with sickness.

The 26-year-old had made a cracking start to the new season with Huddersfield Town but woke up feeling ill on the morning of the match.

Postecoglou also started Robbie Kruse up front instead of Tomi Juric, who was under a fitness cloud after taking a knock in his last club match and failed to train with the team all week.

Australia dominated possession, enjoying 60 per cent of the ball, but did precious little with it and lost the battle for territory.

The home side were also far slicker going forward, taking 18 shots to just five.

The Socceroos came agonisingly close to taking the lead when a deflected Mathew Leckie shot came off the right post in the 38th minute.

But three minutes later, the Samurai Blue went ahead. Asano drifted off his marker, a stationary Brad Smith, and tucked home a terrific cross from left-back Yuto Nagatomo, who was allowed too much space by Mathew Leckie.

Smith was a controversial selection in the squad, preferred over Aziz Behich despite not having played a minute of league football for Bournemouth this season. His rusty display provided more fuel for his detractors.

Australia battled to find their rhythm and not even the introduction of the closest thing there is to Japanese kryptonite – Tim Cahill – could help them find it.

Ideguchi drove the final nail in the 82nd minute, rounding Jackson Irvine and launching a rasping shot from just outside the box that gave goalkeeper Mathew Ryan no chance.

“We just never got control of the midfield the way we wanted to,” Postecoglou said.

“We had possession but not real effective possession and we turned the ball over in transition. They’ve got the ability to hit you quickly.

“We did that too often and brought them into the game.

“I think we had a couple of chances there towards the end, one very good chance to get us back in the game. But it was that sort of night for us, it didn’t fall our way.

“We’re relying on other results which is a position we didn’t want to be in, but that’s the position we’re in.”

Postecoglou leapt to the defence of Smith, whose only game time for Bournemouth so far this season was in an EFL Cup game on the weekend.

“I’ll have to look at the goal again but in my opinion that’s not his responsibility, it’s my responsibility,” he said.

Postecoglou was also hopeful Mooy would be right for the Thailand clash at AAMI Park.

“Aaron’s obviously not well. He didn’t have a great night and this morning, he hadn’t really recovered,” he said.

“Talking to the doctor he just wasn’t well enough to perform so we decided to leave him back at the hotel and hopefully he’ll recover and be OK for Tuesday’s game.”

-AAP