Hiroshi during the match vs Saudi Arabia yesterday. Pic/AFP

Saitama (Japan): Japan beat Saudi Arabia 2-1 in a foul-tempered qualifier yesterday as a debatable Hiroshi Kiyotake penalty boosted their hopes of qualifying for a sixth successive World Cup in 2018. The Blue Samurai drew level with the Group B leaders on 10 points after a tempestuous clash in Saitama, where Kiyotake’s spot kick and a Genki Haraguchi effort eased the pressure on under-fire coach Vahid Halilhodzic.