Saudi Arabia remain on top but Group B has tightened up with just one point separating the first four teams after a blockbuster MD 5 on Tuesday night.
MD 4 results across AFC
Japan have joined Saudi Arabia at the top of Group B following a hard-fought home win while the Caltex Socceroos have dropped to third after a dramatic MD 5 overnight.
The Samurai Blue leapfrogged Australia on the ladder after coming away with a 2-1 win at home over the previsouly unbeaten Saudis.
A first-half penalty from Hiroshi Kiyotake and another goal from Genki Haraguchi put Japan in control in Saitama but the visitors pulled one back through Omar Othman but were unable to snatch a draw.
It means the two nations sit atop Group B on 10 points at the halfway point of this final group stage in qualifying.
Caltex Socceroos draw after thriller in Bangkok
Burns hails Thailand after exciting draw
As we know, it took two penalties from skipper Mile Jedinak to ensure the Caltex Socceroos came away from Thailand with a 2-2 draw.
The result means Ange Postecoglou’s men are third in the standings on nine points ahead of March’s games against Iraq (away) and UAE (home).
And those two nations played in the other game on Wednesday morning (AEDT), with UAE running out 2-0 winners to join Australia on nine points.
It means the top four sides in the group are now separated by just one point heading into the second half of qualifying in 2017.