Japan beat Australia 2-0 in the dying minutes to clinch their place in the World Cup for the seventh time, and in doing so, they also helped Saudi Arabia qualify.
It was a stunning loss for the Socceroos, who now face a tense playoff to keep their dreams of making the tournament in Qatar alive.
The game looked set for a draw in damp Sydney on Thursday until Mitoma scored from close range on 89 minutes, and then again in injury time following a mazy run, prompting jubilant celebrations from the visitors.
“I knew it was going to be a close match so when I was on the bench all I was thinking was, when I got on the field of play I just had to do my job and score a goal,” said Mitoma, 24, who plays for Belgium’s Union SG on loan from Premier League Brighton.
“I feel really happy for the players and people back in Japan, and everyone who is a Japanese fan.”
Victory pushed the Blue Samurai to the top of Asian Group B qualifying on 21 points, six clear of Australia with only one more game to play.
The Saudis, on 19 points, face China in Sharjah later on Thursday but are assured of their place in Qatar courtesy of Japan’s win.
Australia will be forced to play a playoff against the third-placed team in Asian Group A if they finish higher than third. After that, the victor will compete against a South American squad for the privilege to play in Qatar later this year.
Japan’s qualification campaign began with two losses in their first three games, but they have since won six consecutive games.
They had an obvious advantage going into the high-stakes match in front of roughly 42,000 fans at Stadium Australia. The last time Australia beat them was in 2009, when Hajime Moriyasu’s side won a critical 2-1 victory in a match in October.
Due to the impacts of the coronavirus or injury, Australia was also without a number of players, including key players Aaron Mooy and Tom Rogic.
Coach Graham Arnold returned to the sidelines this week after spending seven days in self-isolation after testing positive for coronavirus, but he was disappointed.
“It’s obviously disappointing that we didn’t get the result that we wanted,” said Arnold, who has come under pressure from Australia fans.
Australia now has to focus on qualifying for the World Cup via the playoff route for a second straight time.
“But at the end of the day we’ve got the third place spot and you’ve got to be positive about that. We’ve just got to move forward. I’ve always said I believe in these boys and it’s one game at a time.”
Also in Asia, Spurs star Son Heung-min scored for South Korea on the stroke of halftime in a 2-0 home win over Iran.
Both teams had already qualified from Group A.
Japan got off to a flying start, with Liverpool’s Takumi Minamino putting Socceroos goalkeeper Mat Ryan to the test in the first minute.
In the rain, conditions were challenging, and Australia waited 11 minutes to get their first shot off, with a new-look midfield struggling to connect and generate chances.
While Japan controlled the tempo, Australia scored on a ricochet off Minamino from a Martin Boyle corner on 25 minutes, but the goal was overturned due to an infraction.
As the visitors’ opportunities piled up, Minamino was everywhere, clattering the post with a header and hitting the crossbar minutes later.
Early in the second half, Australia came near twice, but they gradually wore down as Japan reasserted control and pressed for the winner.
With 11 minutes left, Minamino went close again, and the game appeared to be heading for a draw until Mitoma’s late heroics in only his second international.
