FIFA World Cup 2022 qualifier as it happened: Socceroos 0-0 Saudi Arabia

“We had a great performance, I’m proud of the boys. We created chances and on another day, we score.” Matt Leckie a bit disappointed with that but onwards and upwards, China lay in wait next next Wednesday.

Appreciate your time tonight.

No dice for the Socceroos tonight. The home side played with energy and intent but with goals not flowing, the Saudis finished right over the top of them and in the end, it was the Australians who may be grateful to escape unscatched. Mat Ryan with some big saves down the stretch as the Saudis retain their place on top of the Group. The Socceroos just missed a bit of finesse up front tonight as the Green Falcons leave with a crucial point.

Barring a late breakthrough this is heading towards a 0-0 result. I’m writing that in the hope it spurs the Socceroos to score a late winner. Apologies if it has the opposite impact.

Three minutes of time added.

This time it’s Saleh Al-Shehri with the header. Ryan was beaten all ends up but it scrapes the post and rolls just wide. But this has been a huge momentum shift and the Socceroos must dig deep here and find their legs. They look like George Foreman in the Rumble in the Jungle at the moment. Do they have a telling shot in their kit bag?

Have the Socceroos punched themselves out? Ryan again forced to make the save as the Green Falcons find a second wind. Can the home side go with them? They have pressed and pressed and run themselves ragged all night but there is some danger they have left themselves exposed at the pointy end of proceedings.

We are 0-0 with 82 minutes on the clock at CommBank Stadium.

After that flurry of chances, the Saudis are on the ball and looking a little more composed. They haven’t looked like scoring, however, and that shot from well beyond the area sails harmlessly above the goal. But Matt Ryan called upon there and comes up with the BIG save. Trent Sainsbury with the second effort, after being beaten initially, forces the rushed shot. But Ryan the hero there.

Harry Souttar, though, not in such a good spot. Knee, leg, groin, either way he’s battling and done for the night and in some distress.

Mabil forces the save from the free kick but Boyle’s second effort looked as if it had bounced in for all money. Al Yami with back-to-back efforts and earns his dollars there. So, so close for the Australians, they are dominant at the moment as Mitch Duke now makes his way onto the park for Mabil as they earn another corner.

This take from the iconic Age football writer Michael Lynch...

Both central defenders now in the book. A foul on Boyle as he pressed and the Saudis now right on the edge of losing some control of this game. Tense, tense, tense and tense. Free kick for the Australians outside of the area, can they conjure something here?

Leckie forces the diving save, then Jackson Irvine bangs it wide after the ball from Mabil! Two big chances in less than a minute and this is a real momentum shift now towards the Australians. Can they get one? It’s still 0-0 in the driving rain in Sydney’s west.