AB GhaylaneDespite some good chances, the Socceroos suffered a narrow 1-0 loss in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday morning (AEDT).
Graham Arnold made a number of changes from Thursday’s game against Japan. Bruno Fornaroli and Nathaniel Atkinson started for Australia, while Nick D’Agostino made his debut for the Socceroos in the second half.
Martin Boyle thought he had scored his sixth goal for the green and gold after exerting a lot of pressure in the first half, but the Scottish-born Australian was eventually ruled slightly offside.
The hosts opened the scoring with a 64th-minute penalty, Salem Al-Dawsari sending Maty Ryan the wrong way from 12 yards to give the Green Falcons the lead.
Fornaroli and Atkinson both impressed on their international debuts for Australia, while D’Agostino had a solid game on his Socceroos debut in the final 45 minutes against Saudi Arabia in Jeddah.
While Arnold opted for a rejuvenated team against Saudi Arabia, the Socceroos looked to take an early lead against the Green Falcons at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium.
Pacey winger Awer Mabil had a chance to give the Green and Gold the lead in Jeddah, but the 26-year-old’s shot went wide of Mohammed Al-Owais’ goal.
Boyle had the next opportunity to put Australia ahead in Saudi Arabia, but his shot from a tight angle went wide of the Saudi goal.
Moments later, after having his first chance to take the lead in Jeddah, the 28-year-old was slipped in behind and this time rounded Mohammed Al-Owais to score. However, a long VAR check at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium ruled out what would have been Boyle’s sixth goal in the Green and Gold.
The first chance of the final 45 minutes fell to the Green Falcons’ big central midfielder Mohamed Kanno, whose header went wide of Ryan’s goal.
Australia had another chance to score the winning goal when a marauding run by Mabil allowed the former Adelaide United star to cut inside on his right foot and fire a venomous shot that stung the palms of Al-Owais.
.@awermabil17 goes close early after some slick lead-up from @MartinBoyle9 and the debutant Atkinson!
— Socceroos (@Socceroos) March 29, 2022
🎥: @10FootballAU #KSAvAUS #AsianQualifiers #AllForTheSocceroos pic.twitter.com/iWr4TYSdJF
Despite Australia’s impressive first-half attacking play, James Jeggo was adjudged to have fouled a Saudi player in the box, allowing Salem Al-Dawsari to score from 12 yards out to give the home team the lead in the 64th minute.
Socceroos goalkeeper Ryan came up big late on to deny Saudi Arabia a second goal as the whistle blew to end the game and attention turned to June’s playoffs in Doha.
The Socceroos will face the United Arab Emirates on June 7 for a spot in a crucial intercontinental playoff against Chile, Peru or Colombia.
The match against the UAE will be broadcast live and free of charge in Australia on Network 10 and simulcast on 10 Play.
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