On a rainy Sydney night, Australia were held to a frustrating draw by a Saudi Arabian team that won no fans with what Socceroos coach Graham Arnold described as “time wasting” tactics that ensured long breaks in play at the Western Sydney Stadium.
For all that, the Saudis came close to scoring three times in the final 20 minutes of the game but for fine work of goalkeeper Mat Ryan.
Australia had dominated the game up to that point but time-wasting tactics by the visiting team blunted many Socceroo attacks. Repeated “diving” on the lightest of contacts did little to endear the visitors to the public at the match or to social media.
“I think a little bit of frustration set in that with time-wasting and the tactics from the Saudis. You know we have to learn to be better with that. I think that was when they got a couple of their chances,” Arnold was quoted as saying by news.com.au.
READ MORE: Socceroos World Cup qualifiers winning streak brought to an end by Japan
In the second half, Australia lost defender Harry Souttar who had to be stretchered off the field – the result of a knee injury he received as he tried to turn quickly.
The result leaves Australia two points behind log-leaders Saudi Arabia who are on 13 points with five games left to play in. Japan on third is just one point behind Australia.
The Socceroos fly to Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates to face China on Wednesday morning.
