Australia adopted hosts and holders Qatar into the final 16 of the Asian Cup with an unconvincing 1-0 win over Syria on Thursday.
Jackson Irvine scored the winner on the hour mark together with his second purpose of the match, spinning within the penalty space earlier than placing the ball by means of the legs of goalkeeper Ahmad Madanieh.
Graham Arnold’s Socceroos are within the knockouts with a bunch match remaining however might want to play higher in the event that they wish to win the Asian Cup for a second time.
India will play Uzbekistan in the identical group later within the day.
Decrease-ranked Syria nearly took the lead inside 5 minutes when their Colombian-born striker Pablo Sabbag tapped the ball from the foot of the Australian submit.
Sabbag was left bloodied within the face halfway by means of the half after a stray forearm from Aiden O’Neill, and the midfielder was proven a yellow card.
However Australia, who reached the final 16 of the World Cup in Qatar earlier than a 2-1 defeat to eventual champions Argentina, have been now in management.
Arnold criticized his facet for failing to get extra from set items of their 2-0 opening win over India, and 10 minutes earlier than half-time Australia nearly took the lead from a nook.
Defender Gethin Jones gained the ball with a looping header and midfielder Irvine – who scored in India’s victory – simply failed to succeed in the ball on the stretch close to the far submit.
Syria have been ranked 91st on the earth, in comparison with Australia’s twenty fifth, and have been hardly an attacking pressure within the compact Jassim bin Hamad Stadium, regardless of the most effective efforts of their fanatical supporters.
Hector Cuper’s males, who drew 0-0 with Uzbekistan, got here alive on the finish of the primary half.
Winger Ammar Ramadan was a relentless risk and dragged a snap shot large, inflicting confusion within the facet netting. A Sabbag try from exterior the field curled over.
Arnold trudged by means of the tunnel throughout halftime, shaking his head.
Within the 57th minute he had seen sufficient and made a triple substitution, throwing on attacking midfielders Riley McGree and Samuel Silvera, plus midfielder Keanu Baccus.
It did the trick and three minutes later Australia took the lead by means of Germany-based midfielder Irvine.
They have been largely comfy after that, however there was nearly a humiliation for goalkeeper Maty Ryan when he spilled a tame effort from vary within the 67th minute and scrambled again to claw the ball off his purpose line.
The ultimate spherical of matches in Group B is on Tuesday, with Australia enjoying Uzbekistan and India enjoying Syria.
