The Socceroos remain undefeated on top of their World Cup qualifying group after a 2-2 away draw with joint group leader Saudi Arabia in difficult conditions in Jeddah on Friday morning.
The team showed composure and faith in its style of play to withstand early Saudi pressure in front of a partisan 50,000 crowd at the King Abdullah Sports stadium, which was fired up by an early Saudi goal. Saudi attacking midfielder Taisir Al-Jassim neatly finished a Yaya Al Shehri cut back to give the Saudis a flying start in the fifth minute. However, the Socceroos didn’t bat an eyelid in sticking to coach Postecoglou’s mantra of maintaining possession and building out from the back.
As the half progressed, so did the involvement and influence of the Socceroos’ Tomi Rogic, who was spinning past challenges and linking well with forwards Robbie Kruse, Matthew Leckie and Tomi Juric. Left back Brad Smith was also having a good game, and just before the break he switched on the afterburners, creating space for himself in the Saudi box and firing a venomous left foot shot which hit the outside of the post. A minute later, the Socceroos were back on level terms when central defender Trent Sainsbury nodded home an Aaron Mooys corner kick.
The Socceroos continued to take the game to the home team in the second half despite the oppressive humidity, and they got their just rewards when sub Massimo Luongo set Kruse free down the right flank and his excellent cross was tapped home by the tireless Juric in the 71st minute.
With just 10 minutes to go, the tiring Saudis needed a moment of inspiration and it was provided by Al-Jassim, whose excellent run into the heart of the Socceroos defence, followed by a cross, led to a tap in from the player the Saudi fans call ‘the earthquake’, Nassir Al-Shamrani.
The goal gave the Saudis a second wind and they could easily have taken the lead a minute later were it not for an excellent Matt Ryan save. Postecoglou threw on Tim Cahill for Juric with just minutes remaining, and although the Socceroos finished the match well, they failed to create another clear cut chance.
Immediately after the match Socceroos boss Ange Postecoglou said “not getting off to an ideal start didn’t help things and conceding the goal as well”.
“They came out of the blocks pretty quickly, but I thought we worked our way back into the game really well and got the goal we deserved just before halftime.
“Then we looked in control and once we got the second we really should’ve maintained that. It’s a good point but I just feel we could have got more out of it.
“I thought there were some really good performances tonight from some of the guys. We’ll take the point, but as I said, disappointed we didn’t get three.”
The Socceroos’ next World Cup qualifier is on Tuesday 11 October when the team plays third-placed Japan at Docklands stadium in Melbourne.
“It’ll be great to get back home. We’ve had a tough start to this qualifying series,” Postecoglou said. “We’ve played some tough teams away from home and now a tough one at home.There’s no reason why we shouldn’t go into it full of confidence. I’m looking forward to it.”