The Socceroos have the opportunity to seal top spot in Group D with victory against Oman tonight. Join us for comprehensive live score updates and commentary from 1.00am AEDT at the Sultan Qaboos Sport Complex in Muscat.
As Australia’s name was pulled from the glass bowl confirming they’d been drawn along side Saudi Arabia, Oman and Thailand in the second stage of 2014 World Cup qualifying, coach Holger Osieck let out a long deep breath before muttering “Ok, it’s doable.”
After having won their opening three qualifiers, Australia are now on the verge of completing the “doable” at the earliest possible opportunity. A win in Muscat against Oman tonight will confirm Australia’s place in the next stage of qualifying with two games to spare.
Yet the prospect of securing passage into the next stage isn’t the only intriguing element from this fixture.
Will Oseick start in form goal scorer Josh Kennedy instead of the returning Harry Kewell or maybe even a combination of the two?
Does the absence of Tim Cahill mean Brett Holman will play in behind the main striker in a position he’s more accustomed to?
How will the progression of the next generation of Socceroos like Michael Zullo and Matthew Spiranovic go on foreign soil?
On top of all that you’ve also got a desperate group of Omani players who are keen to ensure their World Cup dream isn’t snuffed out on home soil.
When the two teams met in Sydney earlier this year the Australians came out with a comfortable 3-0 win.
However with his job on the line, Oman coach Paul Le Guen, who was originally in line to succeed Pim Verbeek as Socceroos boss before the position eventually went to Holger Osieck, will be plotting to reverse his sides fortunes.
Will the Socceroos make it four wins out of four and advance to the next phase of qualifying? Or can Paul Le Guen spring a surprise?
Join us from 1.00am AEDT for all the action live from Muscat, and post your thoughts on the action below.
B52
Guest
cant be good al the time,, cant be terrible all the time ... you win some and you loose some Asutralia joined asia for a free ride to the world cup finals,,, but it was not as free as they thought,,,, Japan is 10 times better team although am not a jap
ItsCalledFootball
Roar Guru
9 points from our first 3 games in this group needing just one point from our last 3 games. Now its 1 point from our last 2 games. If we lose against the Thais on Tues and need to win our last game against Saudi Arabia, will make it very interesting. Japan and Uzbekistan already safely through to the next round.
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
*claps a good home effort by Oman* Looks like they were well organised and wanted it more.
Davidde Corran
Roar Guru
This was a very poor and disappointing performance from the Socceroos but not necessarily a worrying one by itself. Either way you can expect a lot of analysis over the coming days here on The Roar. Thanks for joining me.
Davidde Corran
Roar Guru
FULL TIME - Oman 1 Australia 0 Desperate long balls chatacterise the final moments of the game as the final whistle blows and Australia lose their third game under Holger Oseick and will have to wait to secure the final point they need to progress through to the next round of qualifying. For Oman this is a huge victory that keeps their Brazil 2014 aspirations alive.
Davidde Corran
Roar Guru
Robbie Kruse cuts in from the left hand side but his shot is poor and flies closer to the corner flag than the goal. The clock is ticking away and once again an Omani player is on the floor...
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
They are also tied for shots on goal and corners, and close enough to 50/50 possession. Oh yeah, and one up on the scoreboard.
Davidde Corran
Roar Guru
We're now into five minutes of additional time and Oman are slowing things right down and Australia are getting frustrated.
Thomas
Guest
This Australian team isnt going to threaten any top sides, they way they are playing. Its a one dimensional game plan lately. Either take it wide and look to find a header for Kennedy, or pump it in from midfield and look to find a header for Kennedy. It feels like they just play a tad too slowly to have other options. This is Oman. They've organised themselves really well and they're a better than decent side, but they arent exactly heavyweights, or even light heavyweights. All the possession we've had and hardly a clear cut chance to speak of.
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
Looks like they want it more
Davidde Corran
Roar Guru
The ball fell fortuitously to Josh Kennedy but the Omani defence fell back into position immediately and snuffed out the opportunity. They defended excellently today.
Thomas
Guest
Im sorry, but our midfield is being outplayed yet again. The fluidity just isnt there, and the speed of our game just isnt quite where it should be. The slow transition from midfield makes our best players look ineffective, because defences have way too much time to crowd them while they wait for our midfield to play little games of triangles. Jedinak in particular just isnt international class. I like Jedinak, but he gives away far too much ball. He can be good at times, and Im not forgetting his scoring potential, but lets be honest here eh? His passing can be penetrating some of the time, but more often than not he has a poor touch and makes lazy passes that give away position. We can only afford one player like that- a guy whose touch is "off" sometimes and whose passing is "loose" sometimes- and that's Brett Holman. Brett can have his errors in every game, but he's such a tireless worker you have to just take the bad with the good he also reliably provides. But poor old Jedinak- sorry- out of his depth and hurting us. Dont we have any better midfielders?? Really?
Davidde Corran
Roar Guru
15 minutes to go and Australia are still 1-0 down and look set to lose their 100% record in their World Cup qualifying campaign.
Davidde Corran
Roar Guru
A worrying sign for Socceroos fans as Rhys Williams comes off with a leg injury (not sure where exactly but the stats say it's probably be an ankle!) for Brett Emerton. Poor Williams was sent off last time he played in Muscat and now his game ends early again after suffering an injury.
Davidde Corran
Roar Guru
Interestingly Al Hadri, who's given Australia trouble all night with his delivery from set pieces has been substituted. Ismail Al Ajim is his replacement.
Davidde Corran
Roar Guru
A phenomenal opportunity to equalise flashes by Holman. WIlkshire gets into the penalty area and his driven shot goes past Al Habsi, Holman and eventually the far post. It was the best opportunity the Socceroos have had so far.
Davidde Corran
Roar Guru
Play is starting to stretch a little bit with the Socceroos attempting to keep the tempo high as they look for a way into the game and both teams showing a willingness to counter quickly. Luke WIlkshire has a nothing shout for a penalty kick waved away before Oman waste a decent opportunity from a corner kick.
Ash
Guest
Oman are serial divers, serial time waster's as well!! Over it. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
Davidde Corran
Roar Guru
Now Valeri tries a deep cross searching for Kennedy who gets his head onto it but he's off-balance and it flies harmlessly over the crossbar. Soon after Rhys Williams sends in a half-volley form the corner of the penalty area which forces a finger tip save from Al Habsi.
Davidde Corran
Roar Guru
After a positive start for Australia it's Oman with the first chance. Al Hadri gets himself into an excellent position but his driven shot goes well wide. Straight after Kewell is substituted with Robbie Kruse coming on.