The Socceroos have clinched a sixth successive World Cup look, passing their last take a look at in qualifying with flying colors as they secured a stirring and historic 2-1 victory over Saudi Arabia in Jeddah.
All they wanted to do to mathematically verify their spot on the 2026 World Cup was keep away from a five-goal defeat on Wednesday morning (AEST) – and the hosts by no means threatened Australia, who safely retained second place in Group C.
The Socceroos rejoice World Cup qualification.Credit score: Getty Photographs
Certainly, Tony Popovic’s males not solely recovered from a momentary wobble attributable to Abdulrahman Al-Obood’s opener, however they struck again simply earlier than half-time by way of Connor Metcalfe’s first worldwide purpose – after which a textbook Mitch Duke header gave them the lead on the opposite aspect of the break.
A extremely contentious penalty awarded in opposition to Jason Geria within the eighty fifth minute threatened to disclaim the Socceroos victory – however Maty Ryan, marking his a centesimal cap, saved the spot kick from Saudi captain Salem Al-Dawsari earlier than Marwan Al Sahafi’s follow-up try was put large of an empty internet.
Ryan was then mobbed by all 10 of his teammates – and their celebrations resumed after the full-time whistle, as soon as the job was formally completed.
It’s Australia’s first win on Saudi soil since 2011, having final week registered their first win over Japan since 2009 – rounding out what has been arguably their greatest worldwide window in current reminiscence.
The outcome retains Popovic’s undefeated document intact by way of eight matches in command of the Socceroos, a string of outcomes that may have been past anybody’s wildest desires when he changed Graham Arnold in September – particularly since that run included house and away fixtures in opposition to Japan and Saudi Arabia, the 2 nations who completed above Australia of their qualifying group for Qatar 2022, forcing them down the arduous play-off route.
Subsequent 12 months’s World Cup in the US, Canada and Mexico would be the first beneath an expanded 48-team format, with berths for AFC nations rising from 4 to eight, so it was at all times going to be a bit of simpler for the Socceroos to qualify. However it has not been easy, or straight-forward, with requirements quickly rising throughout Asian soccer, and the slip-ups in opposition to Bahrain and Indonesia in Arnold’s last video games as coach leaving Popovic with a tough path to navigate.
Saudi Arabia’s federation made tickets freed from cost on the King Abdullah Sports activities Metropolis stadium, hoping to attract a capability crowd to bolster the Inexperienced Falcons’ hopes of an unlikely five-goal victory.
However locals voted with their ft, with massive swathes of the venue empty in a transparent signal that almost all followers in Jeddah thought direct qualification was past them as a result of Australia’s +8 purpose distinction buffer. So it proved. As anticipated, the Saudis started on the entrance foot and broke by way of within the nineteenth minute when Al-Obood bundled in a cutback from Al-Dawsari, whose slick motion down Australia’s proper flank couldn’t be curtailed. His ball clipped Ryan’s glove earlier than falling for Al-Obood to prod it house from basically on the purpose line.
That second wanted to be adopted up by extra of the identical from the Inexperienced Falcons, however Australia didn’t let that occur. The truth is, they levelled the scores with three minutes left within the half, with Metcalfe changing a one-on-one probability after being put by way of by veteran striker Duke, whose hold-up play and subsequent help confirmed why Popovic continues to place his religion in him.
Then Duke received in on the motion himself within the forty eighth minute, heading house a free kick from Martin Boyle that meant the Saudis needed to rating six objectives to advance. That was by no means going to occur, at the same time as an preliminary crimson card to defender Ali Majrashi was rescinded upon VAR overview, briefly giving them hope of clawing their method again into the competition.
The penalty in opposition to Geria gave them one other glimpse – just for Ryan to take it away.
Because the Saudis now enterprise into the fourth spherical of AFC World Cup qualifying – alongside Graham Arnold’s Iraq, the UAE, Qatar, Oman and Indonesia, all of whom might be competing for the subsequent two direct berths – the Socceroos have the luxurious of 12 months of preparation for the event.
