Tim Cahill and Archie Thompson have put Australia’s World Cup qualifying campaign back on track by scoring late in a well-deserved 2-1 win over Iraq in Doha.
The Socceroos left it late at the Grand Hamad Stadium with Cahill and Thompson’s goals coming in the final 10 minutes of the match after Ala’a Abdulzehra opened the scoring in the 72nd minute.
It looked like being a painful night for the Socceroos until man of the match Cahill climbed high from a Matt McKay corner to produce a powerful header that was too good for Iraq goalkeeper Noor Sabri.
The sighs of relief in the Australian camp turned to jubilation four minutes later when substitute Tommy Oar produced an inviting ball for fellow replacement Thompson to head home in front of a small but vocal crowd.
With Oman doing Australia a favour by defeating Jordan 2-1, the Socceroos now sit in second place in their group on goal difference with four matches to play next year, including three home fixtures.
The top two sides from each group qualify for Brazil with the third-placed team forced to run the gauntlet against another Asian team and the fifth-placed South American team.
Australia will be without skipper Lucas Neill and Carl Valeri for their next qualifier against Oman on March 26 in Sydney after both picked up yellow cards on the night.
In warm conditions, Socceroos coach Holger Osieck did not make his first substitution until the 75th minute but the decision to bring on the fresh legs of Thompson and Oar proved inspired.
Midfielder Mark Bresciano, who only lasted an hour in total in the previous two qualifiers, was benched in one of three changes from the side that lost 2-1 to Jordan in Amman last month.
He was not used on the night.
The Socceroos had the better of play in the opening half with Robbie Kruse creating havoc down the right side.
In the 19th minute, he produced a weaving run and put the ball on a tee for Cahill but the striker scuffed his shot from close range.
Nine minutes later, the lively Cahill found space and struck a long range left-foot shot that needed to be pushed away by the Iraq goalkeeper.
The Socceroos continued to look more likely to score in the second half with Mile Jedinak firing wide from just outside the area in the 54th minute.
Two minutes later, Kruse had a golden opportunity to open the scoring but somehow fired wide from close range following an excellent ball from the impressive McKay.
A minute later Neill had a nervous moment after pulling back Younus Mahmood.
The Iraq striker looked to be sprinting clear of Neill onto a long ball but the skipper stopped his progress.
Neill received a yellow card but was possibly a touch fortunate not to be handed a straight red from referee Lee Min Hu for being the last defender.
As Australia pushed forward, Iraq struck on the break with substitute Ala’a neatly slotting the ball past Mark Schwarzer.
However, there was a late twist with Cahill and Thompson producing the telling blows in a valuable away win for Australia.
2014 World Cup Standings – Group B – Final Round of Asian qualifying after this morning’s game:
| Group B | Team | P | W | D | L | GD | Pts |
|
1
|
Japan | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 10 |
|
2
|
Australia | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
|
3
|
Oman | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | -2 | 5 |
|
4
|
Jordan | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -6 | 4 |
|
5
|
Iraq | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | -2 | 2 |
oly09
Guest
That's what makes qualifying all the more exciting, I know my trip to Brazil is riding on this. Just like it was for SA and Germany!
oly09
Guest
To be fair you could probably have heard a pin drop during the whole match seeing it was played in front of a GCU-type crowd.
Rob Gremio
Roar Pro
To be fair to Farina, Kruse was frozen out because he was too busy frequenting the Normanby Hotel with his mates than focusing on football. Farina was happy to play him until his attitude became too much of a burden for the team. Oar made a cameo or two in the Farina years, but was still considered too young and slight of frame for the first team, which was probably the right call. Look how he has bulked up since!
Realfootball
Guest
Yes we got the points, just, against a very poor opponent. This is still a poor team, poorly selected and poorly coached. And now Osieck, clueless and devoid of leadership, will feel he has lattitude to keep on with the same selections and tactics (if that is the appropriate word) ad infinitum. We will be absolute mincemeat in Brasil if this incompetent journeyman remains in charge. My only hope for Brasil is that the FFA cuts Osieck lose after we qualify (or should I say, if) and immediately hires someone who can actually do the job of producing a competitive team for Brasil.
Realfootball
Guest
"Maybe" he's past it? No "maybe"s involved in that one. Did you see him huffing and puffing and failing to keep up with the runner for Iraq's goal?
Realfootball
Guest
Which says an awful lot, none of it good, about our team under Osieck.
Realfootball
Guest
You are too easily pleased. The campaign has varied from poor to abysmal so far.
The Bear
Guest
Well I think we'd agree that more A League coaches that foster talent (not just give them a run when forced through injury to an older player) the better. Kruse had his share of personal issues that were not handled very well at QRoar. I am sure AP would have loved him on the books when Farina finally went...but Brisbane the city probably became too toxic at the time. I respect Farina for playing these guys, along with Zullo...but these kids warranted their selection through their own efforts and talent. I only mention Goodwin cos he's flown under the radar. ! representative appearance. It is unbelievable!!! Does someone need a pedigree of NT selections to become "bankable"?
AndyRoo
Roar Guru
No, but the point is that players come from the most unexpected places. It is too hard to predict who will be a good player in 2018 until they do something substantial. James Holland looked like he was going to fall through the gaps and now he is on the verge of success again. Not long ago Carney got a move to the EPL..... Now I would honestly we rather we pick Goodwin after just two great performances. Picking guys now based on getting caps into them by 2018 is a fools game and would probably breed a sense of entitlement amongst the players.
The Bear
Guest
Andy, _that_ Roar team was steered by Farina and had louts-r-us as the mentor group. Let's not pretend that Oar and Kruse had a chance to become mainstays then.
The Bear
Guest
We have been too conservative in player selection, imo. I believe we can have our cake and eat it. Would it not be nice to see us get to a WC and also progress further than before? BTW Holman was a shadow last night...yet he still gets games. I don't care how "hard" he works in training...which is something that Holger rates over actual contribution on match day. Why not put shake things up once in a while...oh that's right cos we are trying to qualify for a WC!! Oh well player development is sacrificed AGAIN! Well I ma just happy that Oar got his chance once again...and that Harry Kewell has stepped aside (good luck Haz!)
Jim Bom
Guest
Great passing, but just can't seem to finish. They left at least 3 more goals on the pitch rather than in the net.
Jim Bom
Guest
Lets hope Neil stays out. He was, IMHO, very ordinary last night. Maybe he's past it.
The Bear
Guest
Great fight back. Oar is a legend. He should be our dead ball specialist, too, for that matter.
Jim Bom
Guest
No guarantee we will only be second. Although Japan are looking good to top the group, they haven't had any away games in the Middle East yet. Their only away game in this qualifying group was v AUS in Brisbane.
AndyRoo
Roar Guru
That is 6 years away and it would be stupid to sacrifice qualifying for this world cup for some perceived advantage in 2018. This time 3 years ago Robbie Kruse was playing in the NYL team for the Roar after being frozen out of the first team. Tommy Oar was also in that team ... because he was a small child :) Now they are two of our brightest prospects and Holger is giving them game time. The cream rises to the crop.
The Bear
Guest
Worry about the future later? I get the feeling you have no desire to see the Socceroo's play in Russia in 2018?
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
and the yellow against Neill. And I concur; Kruse was our best on the night. 3 home games should we well attended as the points are not yet in the bag. A long wait until March 26th though!
AndyRoo
Roar Guru
The ref was pretty awful and I am just very thankful we have the 3 points in the bag and can get out of there (the Middle East). Very proud of the way the team responded to the ref and changed their game rather than just complain all the time.
JAJI
Guest
JETS I ripped up my air ticket - only to glue it together 10 minutes later. The fact is there no Brazil for alot of us if we dont qualify!