SAITAMA (Kyodo) -- Winger Keito Nakamura came off the bench to force an own-goal equalizer as Japan drew 1-1 with Australia and saw their perfect start to the Asian final round of 2026 World Cup qualifiers come to an end at home on Tuesday.

After bagging 14 goals without conceding through the first three Group C matches, the Samurai Blue were in control but lacked a cutting edge against a well-organized Socceroo side, who took the lead against the run of play through center-back Shogo Taniguchi's own goal in the 58th minute at Saitama Stadium.

Nakamura came on with 20 minutes to go and wreaked havoc down the left, setting up the 76th-minute leveler that went in off defender Cameron Burgess. The Reims attacker created further chances, but the hosts had to settle for a share of the points.

"Honestly speaking, we wanted to win at home," Japan boss Hajime Moriyasu said. "But I want to see it as progress that we didn't crumble after giving away the lead and kept battling, that we didn't give the other team all three points and managed to get a point ourselves."

Captained by Hidemasa Morita in the absence of regular midfield partner Wataru Endo, who had missed Monday's training due to illness, world No. 16 Japan allowed the 25th-ranked visitors only one shot that went off target but still had to battle hard to earn a point.

Takefusa Kubo, who made a late cameo away to Saudi Arabia on Thursday, started in place of Daichi Kamada in attacking midfield and gave Australia an early warning shot by blasting into the side netting in the sixth minute.

With the visitors happy to sit back under new manager Tony Popovic, a former teammate of Moriyasu at Sanfrecce Hiroshima, the hosts had to wait until the 34th minute for their next big chance, when Kaoru Mitoma's curling effort was headed wide by Jason Geria for a corner.

Kubo was a constant menace for Japan and showed deft touches to release Ritsu Doan down the right channel, only to see the midfielder thwarted inside the box. Takumi Minamino could only head wide off a cross from Real Sociedad star Kubo in the 57th minute, moments before Australia took a shock lead.

Lewis Miller's sharp cross from the right flew to Taniguchi, who rushed his clearance, despite a lack of pressure, and miscued the ball past keeper Zion Suzuki.

Moriyasu reacted by sending on Junya Ito, followed by Kamada and Nakamura, and it was the latter who made the vital contribution as he danced past two markers down the left before his cross from the byline went in for the second own goal of the match.

Nakamura and Reims teammate Ito caused all sorts of problems with their pace and trickery, but Australia held firm to move up to five points, five off Group C leaders Japan.

"I don't think there were any issues with our overall defending," Moriyasu said. "It was an own goal and a painful one, but it didn't come after they cut us open as a whole. I hope the players continue doing what we've been doing with confidence."