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The Socceroos will head to a sixth consecutive World Cup after beating Saudi Arabia 2-1 of their ultimate group sport.
After their upset 1-0 win over Japan, the Socceroos solely wanted to keep away from defeat by lower than 5 targets in Jeddah to seal automated World Cup finals qualification for the primary time in 12 years.
Saudi ahead Abdulrahman Al-Aboud scored within the nineteenth minute on the King Abdullah Sports activities Metropolis Stadium to make issues tense.
However striker Mitch Duke teed up Connor Metcalfe to equalise within the forty second minute, earlier than placing Australia in entrance within the forty eighth.
In his a hundredth look, goalkeeper and captain Mat Ryan denied Salem Al-Dawsari from the penalty spot within the 84th minute to seal victory.
Precisely a 12 months earlier than the beginning of subsequent 12 months’s finals in the US, Canada and Mexico, Australia (19 factors, +9 objective distinction) qualify within the second automated spot behind Japan (23 factors, +27) and forward of Saudi Arabia (13 factors, -1).
The consequence underlines the stellar job Tony Popovic, unbeaten as nationwide group supervisor, has completed since taking up from Graham Arnold, who claimed only a level from Australia’s first two video games.
Herve Renard’s fees be a part of fourth-placed Indonesia within the subsequent spherical of qualifiers.
Defender Alessandro Circati was changed by Jason Geria, whereas Duke and Patrick Yazbek began forward of Brandon Borrello and Ryan Teague.
Martin Boyle dragged a shot vast within the 18th minute and Saudi Arabia instantly took the ball up the opposite finish and scored.
Attacking maestro Al-Dawsari, so usually a thorn in Australia’s aspect, lifted the ball to Firas Al-Buraikan then burst ahead to get it again.
Al-Dawsari then squared the ball for Al-Aboud to faucet dwelling on the objective line.
Musab Al-Juwayr blasted over the bar within the thirty third minute earlier than Australia responded.
Duke took possession on the wing then threaded a squaring ball for Metcalfe, who nailed his first Socceroos objective with aplomb.
Al-Dawsari blasted a long-range shot simply vast of the submit in first-half damage time.
Australia took the lead when Boyle whipped in a free kick and Duke rose to look dwelling his first Socceroos objective since January 2024.
Ali Majrashi acquired a straight crimson card for denial of an apparent objective scoring alternative on Boyle within the 52nd minute nevertheless it was overturned following a prolonged VAR evaluation.
Saudi Arabia acquired a late penalty when Jason Geria was dominated to have introduced down Al-Dawsari however Ryan palmed the spot-kick away.
