كتب : Mohamed Sabe
A goal from defender Tulio brace from striker Kazuki Ganaha gave the Japanese Group A’s summit on 15 points, leading the Saudis on goal difference.
Yasser Al-Qahtani scored Saudi Arabia’s consolation goal from a 33rd minute penalty kick.
Saudi Arabia finished the game with 10 men after Asian Player of the Year Hamad Al-Montasheri was shown the red card for bringing down substitute Daiki Takamatsu in the area for a penalty in stoppage time.
However, Tulio spared Saudi Arabia blushes when he fired the spot-kick over the crossbar.
Saudi Arabia had beaten Japan 1-0 at home in the qualifiers last September.
Both teams have already booked their place in Asia’s top competition which will be hosted jointly by Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam and Malaysia.
In Group E action, Iraq held China to a 1-1 draw.
The result maintained Iraq’s place at the group summit on 10 points, leading the Chinese on goal difference as both teams advanced for the finals.
Meanwhile, Palestine’s match with Singapore was cancelled after the Middle East nation’s squad failed to travel to the South-East Asian country.
Elsewhere, Iran were not able to grab their Group B summit despite beating leaders South Korea 2-0, courtesy of second-half goals from Reza Enyati and Hossein Badamaki.
Syria grabbed their first home victory of the group when they crushed Taipei 3-0.