(CNN) -- An injury-time penalty from Keisuke Honda fired Japan into the 2014 FIFA World Cup, making the Samurai Blue the first country to qualify for next year's tournament in Brazil. With Japan needing to avoid defeat in order to clinch one of the 32 places with a game to spare, playmaker Honda converted a late spot-kick to level the score at 1-1 after Australia had taken a surprise lead through Tommy Oar's speculative cross with eight minutes remaining. Tuesday's point means Alberto Zaccheroni's Japan are seven points clear at the top of Asian qualifying's Group B and assured of a place in a fifth consecutive World Cup.
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Japan becomes the first country to qualify for 2014 World Cup in Brazil
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Keisuke Honda's 91st-minute penalty secures a 1-1 draw with Australia
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Japan will now head to Brazil for the forthcoming Confederations Cup
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Sven-Goran Eriksson appointed head coach of Chinese club Guangzhou R & F
@placeholder, as host nation, has does not need to qualify.