Socceroos survive World Cup qualifying scare as Saudi Arabia have ...

FT: Australia 0-0 Saudi Arabia

2 hours agoThu 14 Nov 2024 at 11:09am

96': No goal! VAR confirms offside! Australia dodges a bullet!

2 hours agoThu 14 Nov 2024 at 11:09am

93': Goal Saudi Arabia! No! The offside flag saves Australia!

2 hours agoThu 14 Nov 2024 at 11:06am

2h agoThu 14 Nov 2024 at 10:54am

Another qualifier is in the book, and I guess the Socceroos can say they are ever so slightly closer to the 2026 World Cup. But the opportunity to move clear of Saudi Arabia has passed them by, though things could have been worse if not for that linesman's flag.

Thanks for your company tonight! The blog will be back soon as this qualification campaign continues, and we hope you will join us again then.

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2h agoThu 14 Nov 2024 at 11:09am

Mama mia, what a finish.

Somehow that is equally one that got away for Australia and an incredibly lucky escape. The Socceroos did not play well, lacked cohesion and creativity in attack and required an incredibly tight offside call to go their way in the last moments to save a point.

But the Socceroos did create enough chances to win that game too. There was a lack of a clinical edge in the final third, something you can not afford when your only chances are coming from sporadic high turnovers.

The show goes on for Australia. The smile on Herve Renard's face after the game suggests Saudi Arabia will be happy with the point, but the Socceroos now need to regather themselves and find a way to beat Bahrain on the road next week.

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2h agoThu 14 Nov 2024 at 11:09am

So, so unlucky for Saudi Arabia. Ali Al-Bulahi was marginally, MARGINALLY offside as Sultan Al-Ghannam's shot came in, and given the ball went through his legs Al-Bulahi was adjudged to have interfered with play.

The Saudis thought they had done it. The Socceroos looked like they were down and out. Now Riley McGree is attempting bicycle kicks at the other end to try to steal it.

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2h agoThu 14 Nov 2024 at 11:06am

There is bedlam in Melbourne! The entire Saudi squad was on the pitch to celebrate what looked to be Saudi Arabia's winning goal, from the boot of Sultan Al-Ghannam, but the flag went up to deny them their moment!

But VAR will check this and check this again to make sure the goal was rightfully disallowed. The Socceroos aren't out of the woods yet...

A bursting run down the Saudi left wing led to a wicked cross low into the six yard box, but Souttar and Burgess just about did enough to see it clear.

There isn't too much attacking ambition coming from Saudi Arabia at this late stage, but they're still dangerous.

There will be five minutes added on.

Aiden O'Neill has been subbed for Kusini Yengi, which will get the pulses racing for the last five minutes.

It had to be a goal! The Socceroos beat the offisde trap, Borrello was in on goal but chose to square it to McGree who was around the keeper, but not the last defender.

Saud Abdulhamid somehow got a toe in the way of the shot and stopped a certain Australian goal. Perhaps VAR might have had a look at the initial pass for a hint of offside, but the flagged stayed down. Another missed chance.

Jordy Bos is coming off, to be replaced by Aziz Behich. Some fresh legs at left wing-back as the minutes tick down.

There will be another decent chunk of added time as we have had several injury stoppages (and I would guess a few more to come, as the Saudis look to shut this game down).

A draw away from home would certainly suit Saudi Arabia down to the ground. Up to Australia to find some cutting edge.

I was wrong, that's Velupillay's night over. Not at all what the Socceroos needed tonight or for the upcoming game against Bahrain.

There will be a double change, with Brandon Borrello and Anthony Caceres coming on for Velupillay and and Mitch Duke.

He's a different sort of player to Hrustic, far more direct with the ball. A couple of times now he's taken on the defence with a probing run, and against this high line it's looking like a viable option.

Unfortunately after his latest slalom run, he's gone over on his ankle is requring some medical attention. He doesn't look happy, but I think he'll be able to continue. Australia can't afford to lose him too.

Jordy Bos went on a fantastic run, and his cross looked destined for Nishan Velupillay at the back post, only for Lewis Millar to barge into his back and wipe them both out.

Mitch Duke had a half-chance moments later, but his shot was charged down brilliantly by the Saudi defence. Australia is on top, clearly, for the first time tonight.

It's coming from the hard work and grit of guys like Mitch Duke, rather than any sort of flowing build up play, but it's starting to put a weary Saudi defence under pressure.

Riley McGree's snap shot was blocked, but there is life in Australia now with half an hour to play.

But the timing is off, and the offisde flag is halting them at every turn.

There is opportunity there for the Socceroos though. That Saudi high line looks breachable to me. Just going to take more quality than we have seen from this game so far.

Ajdin Hrustic has a groin problem and has been subbed off at half-time. Australia's brightest player in the first half has been replaced by Nishan Velupillay.

And a deflected shot from Al-Shehri earns Saudi Arabia a corner already.

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3h agoThu 14 Nov 2024 at 10:02am

A scratchy, unconvincing first half from Australia, but still one in which it created most of the best chances. Saudi Arabia looked more composed on the ball and organised off it, but didn't really turn that into any real threat - until the final moments of the half, that is. Australia thought it had a penalty, but VAR correctly overruled the call as Mitch Duke had been fouled just outside the area.

The Socceroos improved as the half wore on, but their biggest threats remain Ajdin Hrustic's left foot and Harry Souttar from set pieces.

Australia needs an injection of pace up top to try to exploit the Saudi high line, or to try to bring Duke into the game more somehow. Work to do.

Again it comes from a successful high press, but again the finish wasn't there for the Socceroos.

Irvine did all the hard work, winning the ball initially and earning the shot from the edge of the box. But he was unbalanced, and it spooned over the bar harmlessly.

There may have been an offside in the build up, but Gauci was sensational in denying Feras in a genuine one-on-one. The striker tried to take it around the keeper but Gauci timed his move perfectly to deny him without conceding a penalty.

A flag did go up later in the play, but Gauci's good work was already done.

Just as I pump up Ajdin Hrustic, he lets one get away.

Aiden O'Neill gave the Saudi defence a taste of its own medicine with a fantastic press, pinching the ball just outside the penalty area. Duke played in Hrustic who was on his favoured left foot, but his shot was so meek.

It dribbled to the keeper and the moment had passed.

Six minutes to be added on in first-half stoppage time.

It's Ajdin Hrustic. He is coming more and more into the game, and his left foot is only meaning good things for the Socceroos. Hrustic alone is bringing the promise of some more fluidity in attack, cutting in from the right to spot runners in behind.

Nothing has stuck yet, but there are signs of life.