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The Socceroos have missed a golden opportunity to make their trip to Sydney on Tuesday a relatively calm one after a 1-1 draw with Syria in Malaysia.
The Socceroos dominated the possession stats early in the game yet in typical fashion, took forty minutes to find the back of the net and take the lead off the boot of Robbie Kruse.
The Australians should have been two to three goals clear and their failure to take chances would once again haunt them later in the game.
The second half saw the Syrians take control and press the Australians physically and mentally before finally being awarded a penalty to equalize the scores with around ten minutes remaining.
Despite the dubious nature of the decision, the penalty came on the back of a consistent period of pressure from the Syrians and the Australians looked slow, tired and outclassed as the speedy substitutions took control of the game.
Al Soma slotted the spot kick away and the Syrians looked more likely to score in the final stages.
Syria 1 Australia 1
It’s D-Day for the Socceroos as they meet the Syrians at the Hang Jebat Stadium in Melaka, Malaysia. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 11:30pm (AEDT).
After the disastrous end to the group stage of their qualification campaign for Russia 2018, the Socceroos find themselves in a home and away battle with Syria.
Victory here over the two legs moves them through to another do or die situation against an as-yet-unknown opponent.
In all reality, the Australians should be too strong for the Syrians, however as we are all too familiar with in this country, the unpredictability of world football should never be underestimated.
For Syria, this is a great achievement and they could play with a freedom and spirit that worries the Socceroos.
Alternatively, they might be happy with a dour scoreless affair and back their chances to pinch an away goal in Sydney next Tuesday.
For the Socceroos and Ange Postecoglou, this will be as much a psychological challenge as a physical one, with confidence levels seriously affected after the matches against Japan and Thailand.
This is a campaign that should have run more smoothly than the way it has panned out. Tonight is the first step in getting things back on track.
I guess, when you are ranked outside the top thirty-two nations, qualification should be tough.
There is no room for error for the Socceroos and tonight is the first step of four where they must control their own destiny.
Prediction
The Socceroos will dominate possession and chances yet we have all seen that before. Syria will probably sit and wait patiently for a chance to break. One goal will be more than enough for them and they would take that result with glee.
The Australians will need to find a way to break down what will be a firm and committed defence. Tonight they will and a comfortable victory will be the result.
Syria 0, Australia 3
Catch all the action on The Roar live coverage from 11:30pm AEDT.