Olyroos fail to qualify for the Paris Olympics after heartbreak at under-23 Asian Cup

Disappointed Olyroos players ponder their side’s failure to qualify for the Olympics. Picture: Mohamed Farag/Getty Images

The Olyroos won’t be at the Paris Olympics after not managing to score a goal in a disappointing AFC under-23 Asian Cup campaign.

Australia won’t be represented at this year’s Olympic Games men’s football tournament after the Olyroos’ limp AFC under-23 Asian Cup campaign came to an end with a 0-0 draw against tournament hosts Qatar.

Needing a win to have any hope of reaching of the quarter-finals and keeping their slim chance of Paris Olympics qualification alive, the Olyroos again failed to find the back of the net.

The Australians finished the tournament without scoring, having drawn 0-0 with Jordan and lost 1-0 to Indonesia in their previous two Group A matches.

The Olyroos’ failure to score a goal in three games again raises questions about the decision not to pick A-League prodigy and Bayern Munich-bound teenager Nestory Irankunda in the squad.

Disappointed Australian players react after the AFC U23 Asian Cup Group A match against Qatar. (Photo by Mohamed Farag/Getty Images)

Dejected Olyroos goalkeeper Patrick Beach reflects on his side’s failure to qualify for the Paris Olympics. Picture: Mohamed Farag/Getty Images

The closest the Australians came to scoring against Qatar came in the 75th minute when substitute Keegan Jelacic had a shot that was tipped on to the post by goalkeeper Ali Nader Mahmoud.

Olyroos captain Jacob Italiano also had a good chance two minutes before half-time but his shot flew over the crossbar.

Even if the Olyroos had won the match, it wouldn’t have been enough to reach the last eight, with Indonesia’s 4-1 victory against Jordan taking them to six points and locking in second spot in Group A and progression to the quarter-finals with group winners Qatar, who finished with seven points.

The Olyroos came third in group with two points, one more than Jordan.

The nations that finish the tournament in the top three will qualify for the Olympics, while the fourth-placed team will meet the fourth-ranked African nation, Guinea, in a playoff for a spot in Paris.