Defender Harry Souttar says the Socceroos’ unconvincing 1-0 win over Palestine was an important lesson about the difficulties of qualifying for the World Cup through Asia.
Australia sit top of group I on six points after Souttar nodded home in the 18th minute at the Jaber Al-Ahmed International Stadium in Kuwait.
Only a magnificent save from Mat Ryan just before half-time stopped an excellent Palestine (seven shots, two on target) equalising.
The Socceroos (eight shots, five on target) struggled with Palestine’s intense pressing and failed to create many meaningful chances.
“I don’t think we were best pleased with our performance. We can play a lot, lot better,” Souttar told Network 10.
“But it’s a great lesson for us as a team and a couple of the new guys coming into the squad about playing games away in Asia.
“If you want to go through and qualify, these are the games you’ve got to win.
“We stood up to the task and end of the day we won the game but we know as a group and as a squad we can play a whole lot better.”
With Bangladesh and Lebanon drawing 1-1 in their earlier match, Australia will resume qualifying in March, after the Asian Cup, four points clear with four games to play.
The top two teams in the group progress to the next stage.
“It’s exactly what I predicted and thought: that Palestine were going to come out with that type of energy, that type of workrate and fight and you’ve got to give full credit to Palestine,” coach Graham Arnold told Network 10.
“Probably we didn’t play our best but the most important thing was the three points.
“I’ll have a bit of break now, a bit of a reflection on everything and I look forward to that.”
The win was soured by a groin injury to right-back Ryan Strain in the 21st minute.
The game was relocated from the West Bank to Kuwait due to the escalation in violence in the region, but the crowd was clearly pro-Palestine.
Palestine players wore keffiyehs around their necks for their national anthem and both teams lined up around the centre circle before kick-off for a minute’s silence.
In response to Hamas’ October 7 attack that killed about 1,200 people, Israel has bombarded Gaza.
Palestinian officials say more than 13,000 people in Gaza have been killed.
The Socceroos have committed a portion of their match payments to Oxfam’s humanitarian efforts in Gaza, with the sum matched by Football Australia.
For the goal, Craig Goodwin curled a wicked left-footed corner onto the forehead of Souttar, who drove home his 10th international goal.
Palestine weren’t deterred and almost equalised in the 45th minute, when Ryan made himself big to deny Tamer Seyam’s close-range shot.
Socceroos young gun Jordy Bos should have scored when he turned a free header onto the bar in the 65th minute.
From there, Palestine had Australia on the back foot, but were unable to conjure an equaliser.
Elsewhere,
Son Heung-min scored twice and set up the third as South Korea handed China a 3-0 defeat in Shenzhen on Tuesday to complete back-to-back wins at the start of their challenge for a place at the 2026 World Cup finals.
Son put the Koreans in front in the Group C clash in the second phase of Asia’s preliminaries with an 11th minute penalty after Hwang Hee-chan had been fouled in the area.
He added the second in the final minute of the first half with a header for Jurgen Klinsmann’s side.
The Tottenham Hotspur forward turned provider three minutes from time when he drifted in a free kick from the right that Jung Seung-hyun headed past Yan to put the seal on the victory.
In the opening set China had beaten Thailand who bounced back from that loss to beat Singapore 3-1.
South Korea are one of seven countries in Asian qualifying, including Australia who beat Palestine in Kuwait thanks to Harry Souttar’s goal, with two wins from two. The others are Iraq, Japan, Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Malaysia.
Mohanad Ali scored six minutes into injury time to earn Iraq a 1-0 win over hosts Vietnam in Group F as Jesus Casas’ side moved onto six points.
Vietnam remain in second in the group standings after the Philippines and Indonesia shared a 1-1 draw in Manila.
Qatar, the host of last year’s World Cup, followed their 8-1 defeat of Afghanistan by beating India 3-0 in Group A.
Japan have opened with a brace of 5-0 wins, beating Syria by that score in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, after putting a handful past Myanmar.
Also in Group B Jong Il Gwan scored a hat-trick as North Korea picked up their first win of the campaign with a 6-1 thrashing of Myanmar in Yangon having started their quest for a place at the finals last Thursday with a draw against Syria.
Malaysia top Group D after winning in Taiwan 1-0, Saudi Arabia won 2-0 in Jordan, and the UAE also doubled up with a 2-0 win in Bahrain.
NoMates
Roar Rookie
The better team lost by a fluke goal. If this is what its going to be like going forward to i doubt we Qlfy directly.
fabian gulino
Roar Rookie
A win is a win thats what matters.
Midfielder
Roar Guru
Agree, watched until about 10 min into the second half and was simply to tied so went to bed...
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
Watching the rest of the game, you can only play as well as the opposition lets you, and Palestine kept up the work rate till the end of the match and the second half was only slightly more open than the first. Palestine defence was more solid than England was. It was a fairly even match in the end, Palestine their final ball was dissaapointing. Bos you could criticise he had the completely free header, and he had McLaren unmarked next to him when he shot in the final minutes. I think this referee allowed a fair bit, most of the time Australia lost the ball they were just getting manhandled off the ball. The plus side Australia were strong defensively and conceded few chances.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
I have watched the first half so far and Palestine were very tough, hard working and well organised defensively. They were quite big and well built, while Australia have Souttar super tall, and Miller as the strongman, their whole team was almost all just under Miller in size, and comparable to Duke and Connor Metcalfe. Goodwin looked scrawny and weak compared to them. Boyle could have been the outlet but he was just taken out whenever he got the ball. I think Rowles needed to do something other than always pass to Souttar, and both of them could have tried to run forward and draw defenders to help create an opening.
Grem
Roar Rookie
I was unable to view the game, but am happy with any win. I still remember the golden generation playing for a draw against China, in China, under Pin Verbeek. Qualifying through Asia is tough, especially in such an emotional game for this team who would have been wanting to make a huge impression.
AGO74
Roar Rookie
Didn’t see it. Only saw highlights this morning. Good save from Ryan for Palestinians only clear chance. We could have scored a couple of other goals also by looks of it. Craig Goodwins delivery of crosses continues to be exceptional. A 1-0 win in our first away game of 14 matches home and away in total (and up to 20 if things went real bad) on another gruelling WCQ journey. I will take that thanks even if performance was scratchy as suggested by article.