Shinji Okazaki struck a last-gasp winner as Japan moved onto the brink of 2014 World Cup qualification with a 2-1 victory away to Oman on Wednesday.
Hiroshi Kiyotake's maiden strike for the national team midway through the first half looked to have done enough to give Japan all three points but the Omanis hit back 13 minutes from time through Ahmed Mubarak's free kick.
Oman had been undefeated at home in the final round but their resistance was finally broken as Okazaki struck in the dying stages to move the Asian champions eight points clear at the top of Group B.