TIME FOR SOME GOOD NEWS 👏 The Socceroos are now just one win away from qualifying for the Qatar 2022 World Cup, after beating the UAE 2-1 in their Asian qualifying playoff on Wednesday morning. 👉For more:
The Socceroos are now just one win away from qualifying for the Qatar 2022 World Cup, after beating the UAE 2-1 in a gripping Asian qualifying playoff on Wednesday morning.
But the Socceroos had woken up from their first-half malaise and began to threaten with more regularity. Irvine nearly ensured Australia regained the advantage in the 63rd minute when he whipped in a cross from the right flank. It found left-winger Craig Goodwin at the back post, but the Adelaide United star contrived to miss the golden opportunity from close range.
“We obviously gave away a goal which was disappointing but we knew we had enough in the key moments to win the game and obviously pleased with taking one of them myself.” That came after the Socceroos suffered three injury blows in the lead-up to the match with Jason Davidson, Trent Sainsbury and Adam Taggart missing due to injury, after Tom Rogic had previously withdrawn from the squad due to personal reasons.
The Socceroos constantly struggled to penetrate the Emirati defence, which can partially be explained by a significant tactical change from Graham Arnold to have both fullbacks remain in a more defensive position in an attempt to nullify UAE counter-attacking threat. Three minutes later, Irvine was an unwitting figure in the UAE’s equaliser. Harib Abdalla - to that point the most influential player of the match - again found the ball deep on the left flank. He squared up Bailey Wright, who received no support from his fellow defenders, and whipped in a cross. It bounced off Irvine on the edge of the six-yard box, and Caio slammed the ball into the roof of the net.
Fullback Behich made a rare foray forward and got on the end of a long ball from Hrustic at the by-line before firing in a bouncing ball to Maclaren just eight yards from goal. Maclaren struggled to control the difficult ball, and a defender’s diving lunge poked it into Boyle, the ball rebounding out for a goal kick.
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