While it should make the task of selling tickets a bit easier ahead of Tuesday night, the bad news for the Socceroos is that they are now just one game away from potentially missing the World Cup.
There has got be an easier way.
These days watching the Socceroos is at times like pulling teeth, or perhaps asking Aaron Mooy to provide some post-match comments.
You know it needs to be done, but the whole thing is painful nevertheless.
For 63 minutes Australia dominated the scrappy, niggly, time-wasting Syrians in the atmosphere-destroying neutral confines of Hang Jebat Stadium.
Then Josh Risdon went off – “out of gas” according to Ange Postecoglou – and Firas Al-Khatib came on for Syria, and suddenly the complexion of the game changed completely.
Where it looked earlier like the Socceroos couldn’t possibly fail to score a second goal – paging Tomi Juric – suddenly Syria seemed a shoe-in for an equaliser.
And then, surprise surprise, they were awarded the softest of penalties for Mat Leckie’s innocuous-looking challenge on Omar Al Somah.
There were no doubts about Al Somah’s finish – no goalkeeper in the world would have saved that spot-kick – but controversy raged after the Syrians were awarded such a soft penalty in the first place.
“It’s never a pen but you expect that with the referees in this confederation,” Robbie Kruse told Fox Sports after the game – and he surely risks sanction from the Asian Football Confederation for speaking so candidly.
But as frustrating as the penalty decision was, perhaps Leckie shouldn’t have had his arm up in the first place?
The decision sucked the life out of a Socceroos side that was just six minutes from victory, and in the end they were arguably lucky to come away with the tie locked at 1-1.
Postecoglou’s decision to pick Aziz Behich and Risdon in the wide positions in a 3-2-4-1 formation looked a masterstroke, particularly as the pair belatedly afforded Leckie and Kruse some defensive protection.
Matt Jurman turned in a solid performance on debut, while Milos Degenek also chimed in with a vital goal-saving tackle – not to mention the pass that set up Australia’s goal.
And after months of watching Leckie and Kruse struggle to combine attacking play with more defensive duties, we finally got to see what the German-based pair are capable of further up the pitch.
But is it all too little, too late? As reader Dennis Koutoulogenis pointed out to me on Twitter, had Postecoglou picked the same starting eleven earlier in the campaign, the Socceroos might already have booked their flights to Russia.
As it stands, there’s now a nerve-wracking 90 minutes to negotiate in Sydney – and potentially longer – for the right to contest the inter-confederation playoff.
At the very least both the players and Postecoglou seemed reasonably upbeat following the 1-1 draw, and there’s a confidence among the camp that they’ll be able to get the job done at Stadium Australia.
No doubt the FFA is eager to maximise ticket sales, but it’ll be interesting to see just how many supporters turn up at Homebush when the more intimate Sydney Football Stadium might have been the smarter option.
There’s no denying FFA needs the Socceroos to reach the World Cup – as much for the financial rewards as the obvious boost it will give to the game in this country.
But with Al-Khatib surely set to play a greater role than his brief cameo in Malacca, Tuesday night’s decider is anything but a fait accompli.
We were hoping for high-stakes football when we joined the AFC, but I don’t think any Socceroos fans would have willingly signed up for this.
It’s been a torturous campaign to date. And unless the Socceroos can pull something out of the fire on Tuesday night, it might all be about to come to a shuddering halt.
Bobby Moore
Guest
why don't you put your name up for Socceroo coach then being such an expert
Bobby Moore
Guest
Deserved nothing and we beat then in Sydney - too many on here think they are either some premier league ex player /manager /some expert or yet to be discovered player or manager- None is the case as all they are is arm chair critics.
Bobby Moore
Guest
best?? - better players than him- don't know which game you were watching or did you go to bed at half time?
Bobby Moore
Guest
Been the story of the campaign so many chances and so few goals-Not the coaches fault
Bobby Moore
Guest
You went to bed it was 1-1- have to laugh at some who make zero sense with their comments like this dude
Bobby Moore
Guest
Easy for the arm chair critics to criticise but tell us all your best sporting achievement at even somewhat of a high level - I suggest none but oh you have some right to comment - useless tossers
punter
Guest
We have only ever had the quality in the final third when Viduka & Kewell played. This was always our shortfall, we have always been well structured, solid, professional, but apart from those 2 aforementioned players, The Socceroos has never had the quality. If you not sure what I mean, how many of our players ever are like Honda of Japan or Son of Korea, apart from H & Dukes? Maybe this is what Ange is trying to do, making us get that quality in the final third
punter
Guest
Very Impressive!!!
Gavin R
Guest
Well that leaves two conclusions; 1. The manager is useless 2. We over estimate our own abilities. Also, according to the ELO rankings, we are 36 and Syria are 59. Not an enormous difference.
Grobbelaar
Roar Guru
Impressive.
Grobbelaar
Roar Guru
GR It's not about entitlement. They are, look like and play like a bunch of semi-professionals. Sure, occasionally they put together a few passes, one or two liked to go for a run, but all in all, in world terms, they are a middling team at best.
Gavin R
Guest
I was working at Suncorp Stadium for the Roar v Mariners grand final. I left with about 4 minutes left in extra time to beat the traffic thinking it was over...
Gavin R
Guest
I really think its time we start respecting Asian football. Then, just maybe, some of us wont walk around so entitled.
Mike Tuckerman
Expert
He'd be fabulous in the A-League.
BrainsTrust
Guest
The glass is full to the brim, and the table is flooded. Australia have too many play makers, and a crazed coach. Mooy finally had a good half because he had some runners to aim for not Rogic and Cahill. Kruse, Mooy and Milligan were out on their feet more than Risdon, I would have recommended Irvine,Lungo and Troisi to replace them. If you look at the squad there are 5 playmakers, and Milligan can easily count as a deep lying plamaker. Cahill can only play striker these days working off balls into the box, Ruka is a striker, and at best a striker winger, the last person to rely on him to do his share of ball winning and defending only just missed out on the wooden spoon,. So what Ange brought on was a surplus of playmakers and a wooden spoon level A-league midfielder.
jupiter53
Roar Pro
Spot on.
Nemesis
Guest
Whom are you referring to as semi professional? I hope you don't suggest
Locomotiv
Guest
Best player on the park last night was Al-Khatib. What a monster, has cult like status perfect for the A-League.
Nemesis
Guest
47 Member Nations in Asia. Syria are now amongst the Top 6 nations based on results over the past 18 months. Based on what statistical analysis do you use to define #1 to #6 as "middling"? No. The most basic analysis is that no team in Asia has beaten Syria in Malaysia - not even the #1 ranked team in Asia, who qualified 2nd in the world for the 2018 World Cup Finals.
Grobbelaar
Roar Guru
Clearly sufficient quality to beat a bunch of semi-professionals.