The Socceroos secured their qualification for the 2026 World Cup thanks to a 2-1 win over Saudi Arabia at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium where, crucially, they avoided heavy defeat.
Needing to avoid a five-goal loss in Jeddah, Tony Popovic’s side did what was required, but not before they went behind to an early Abdulrahman Al-Aboud goal which set the pulses racing.
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Connor Metcalfe helped ease nerves when he brought Australia back onto level terms just before the half-time break with his first international goal, before Mitch Duke headed the visitors into the lead soon after the restart.
The game appeared to slip away from Saudi Arabia on 51 minutes when Ali Majrashi was sent off for cutting down Martin Boyle, who was through on goal, but VAR intervened, deeming there was no contact and the red card was rescinded.
The home side were handed a chance to pull level late on when the referee pointed to the spot for a Jason Geria foul on Salem Aldawsari, but Maty Ryan, making his 100th appearance for the Socceroos, saved the resulting penalty.
Australia join Group C winners Japan – and Group A’s Iran and Uzbekistan, and South Korea and Jordan from Group B – as automatic Asian qualifiers for next year’s expanded 48-team tournament in North America.
The result means Saudi Arabia, along with Indonesia from Group C, must head into a fourth round of qualifying.
More to follow.
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