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MATCH REPORT: Arnie says Saudi 'time wasting' frustrated Socceroos in bad tempered World Cup clash

11th November, 2021
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11th November, 2021
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Australia and Saudi Arabia battled to a bad tempered draw in Parramatta, with torrents of rain and the crocodile tears of the visitors adding to a wet squib of a night that spells trouble for Socceroos World Cup campaign.

After winning the opening three games of this stage of qualifying, and 11 World Cup qualifiers in a row, the Socceroos have now dropped five points from the last six.

The result was far better for Saudi Arabia, winning their first point on Australian soil, to stay top of the group with 13 points from five games. Australia, who face China on Wednesday AEDT, have 10 from five and Japan have six from four.

Socceroos coach Graham Arnold said a win over China would leave his team in a “fantastic position”.

“Overall we played well, we created chances but they didn’t go in,” said Arnold. “Then a little bit of frustration set in with the time wasting and tactics from the Saudis.

“We have to learn to be better with that because that’s when they came up with their chances.”

The Saudis must have found the wet conditions outside their comfort zone, but they never let the hosts settle in a tight, bruising battle.

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The Socceroos dominated for most of the contest but the visitors, who had been pampered on a private jet for their journey down under, stormed home and Ryan was forced to produce three good second half saves. Australia’s disappointment was exacerbated through the loss of Stoke defender Harry Souttar to what appeared a serious knee injury with 12 minutes left in the game.

Neither team had a shot on target in the first half and it took Australia 53 minutes to muster one, as Mat Leckie forced his way into ascendency on the left side of the area. He took his time with the shot but was denied by the angle and the foot of Mohammed Al-Yami.

Three minutes later Jackson Irvine was teed up in front after Awer Mabil’s persistence on the left but skewed a shot wide.

Al-Yami, the Saudis’ third choice keeper playing his third international, then made a sharp double save, parrying a Mabil freekick and then denying a follow up strike from Martin Boyle with an outstretched foot.

“It’s match saving goal keeping,” said Andy Harper on the 10 coverage.

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Former Socceroo Luke Wilkshire said Irvine’s was the key miss.

“He needs to be putting that away,” said the ex-World Cup player. “These moments at this level they’ve got to go in.”

Alex Brosque added: “You could see when those chances didn’t go in the Saudis grew in confidence.”

Just as Australia had flooded forward, the tap turned off and the Saudis had asscendency down the final quarter hour.

Ajdin Hrustic had been superb in an Australian team missing Aaron Mooy and Tom Rogic, but faded down the stretch while Leckie ran out of steam in his first start in five months.

The Saudis frustrated Australia with sly, late tackles and their propensity to go to ground often and with overwrought theatrics.

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In the end Australia was grateful they left with a point.

With six minutes left Salman Al-Faraj was given too much time to cross from the left and beautifully picked out Saleh Al-Shehri who glanced his header just wide with Ryan beaten.

Ryan had to make another save, his most spectacular of the lot, as the Australians were listing dangerously.

“There were inches in it at times, a few cross when I was close to get something on it,” said Leckie. It was one of those games where the ball didn’t want to go in. We created chances and on another day they would have gone in.

“It’s unfortunate we didn’t get the three points for the fans.”

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