Asian Cup 2015: Socceroos have struggled to beat improved Oman in recent history

FOUR times the Socceroos faced Oman on the path to last year’s World Cup, and only one proved a comfortable experience - a 3-0 win in Sydney.

Oman make habit of frustrating Socceroos

TOO many times over the past four years, the headlines have been familiar – usually a pun along the lines of Man Oman.

SKIPPER JEDINAK RULED OUT OF OMAN GAME

MILLIGAN TO GET NOD TO FILL JEDINAK BREACH

VERSATILE BURNS GIVES ANGE PLENTY OF OPTIONS

TROISI: GET SMART OR BE PUNISHED

STUNNING STOP GIVES RYAN HEART

LUONGO CREDITS ANGE CALL FOR CALMING NERVES

KRUSE EARNS SPECIAL PRAISE FROM FITNESS GURU

Robbie Kruse comes to grips with the Oman defence during a World Cup qualifier.

Four times the Socceroos faced Oman on the path to last year’s World Cup, and only one proved a comfortable experience.

That was a 3-0 win in Sydney, and the crucial point of that game came in the eighth minute – Josh Kennedy opened the scoring and suddenly Oman were chasing the game.

“The one result that comes to mind was the one that we won 3-0, because we scored an early goal and that enabled us to open them up,” said Matthew Spiranovic.

“The other games we’ve found it hard to break them down and they’ve made it really tough for us.”

Not least a month later in Muscat, where the tables were rather emphatically turned. This time, a clinical 18th minute strike from Amad Ali had Oman in the lead and an increasingly fractious Australian side had no way back.

Harry Kewell was substituted and stormed down the tunnel, symbolic of an unhappy camp.

By the following June both sides were through to the last round of World Cup qualifying and met again in Muscat.

This time, with a 5pm kick off and 41C temperatures, Osieck’s side were glad to escape with a 0-0 draw, knowing they still had to face Oman at home.

That came in March 2013, with Osieck promising to blood young players and an eight-day camp in preparation, but the performance was another depressing display with a late goal from Brett Holman rescuing Australia to earn a 2-2 draw.

“Basically every time we’ve played them, apart from that 3-0 win, has been a really tough test,” said Spiranovic.

“The other games were definitely very awkward, and I have no doubt that it will be the same on Tuesday night.

“They pushed Korea hard (in losing the first game in Canberra 1-0) and we cannot afford any slip ups.”

Originally published as Asian Cup 2015: Socceroos have struggled to beat improved Oman in recent history