AS IT HAPPENED: Socceroos far from convincing, but get the job done with 1-0 win over Syria

The Socceroos continue their AFC Asian Cup campaign against Syria looking to secure a place in the last 16. Join The Roar for live scores and rolling coverage from 10:30pm (AEDT).

As expected, the Socceroos beat India in the Group B opener, but their 2-0 victory was characterised by often clunky and imprecise play against a determined and well-drilled opponent.

Syria opened their campaign with a hard-fought nil-nil draw against a much more fancied Uzbekistan team, even finding the back of the net through winger Ibrahim Hesar, only to be denied by an offside flag.

The Socceroos are likely to again face a deep-lying, packed defence, along with some more potent attacking threats than India offered, including Hesar, his fellow winger Ammar Ramadan, and lanky striker Pablo Sabbag.

Graham Arnold’s men will need to improve on their opening performance to be sure of progression. Hector Cuper’s Syria has everything to gain and little to lose in search of their first knockout phase at the Asian Cup.

Game information

Venue: Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, Doha, Qatar
Kick-off: 10:30pm (AEDT)
TV: Channel 10
Streaming: Paramount+
Betting: Australia $1.28, draw $4.85, Syria $12 – odds via PlayUp

Squads

Australia

1. Mat Ryan (c), 2. Thomas Deng, 3. Nathaniel Atkinson, 4. Kye Rowles, 5. Jordan Bos, 6. Martin Boyle, 7. Sam Silvera, 8. Connor Metcalfe, 9. Bruno Fornaroli, 10. Kusini Yengi, 11. Marco Tilio, 12. Lawrence Thomas, 13. Aiden O’Neill, 14. Riley McGree ,15. Mitch Duke, 16. Aziz Behich, 17. Keanu Baccus, 18. Joe Gauci, 19. Harry Souttar, 20. Lewis Miller, 21. Cameron Burgess, 22. Jackson Irvine, 23. Craig Goodwin, 24. Patrick Yazbek, 25. Gethin Jones, 26. John Iredale.

Syria

1. Ibrahim Alma (c), 2. Aiham Ousou, 3. Mouaiad Al Ajaan, 4. Ezequiel Ham, 5. Omar Al Midani, 6. Amro Jenyat, 7. Omar Khrbin, 8. Kamel Hmeisha, 9. Alaa Al Dali, 10. Mohammad Al Marmour, 11. Pablo Sabbag,12. Ammar Ramadan, 13. Thaer Krouma, 14. Mouhamed Anez, 15. Khaled Kourdoghli, 16. Elmar Abraham, 17. Fahd Youssef, 18. Jalil Elias, 19. Moaiad Al Khouli, 20. Antonio Yakoub, 21. Ibrahim Hesar, 22. Ahmad Madanieh, 23. Taha Mousa, 24. Abdul Rahman Oues, 25. Mahmood Alaswad, 26. Maksim Sarraf.

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