Saudi Arabia dampened Australia’s homecoming with a 0-0 draw Thursday in a top-of-the-table World Cup qualifying clash in Sydney — the Socceroos’ first home game in more than two years.
Defying a rowdy crowd of 23,314, the visitors spoiled the party in a bad-tempered encounter played in teeming evening rain.
Saudi Arabia could even have won it towards the end, having sat back for most of a drab and niggly contest.
At the halfway stage of this final round of qualifying for next year’s World Cup in Qatar, Saudi Arabia continue to set the pace in Group B with 13 points. Australia are clinging to second with 10.
Japan are third but now just a point behind the Socceroos after a 1-0 victory at basement side Vietnam. Junya Ito scored the only goal.
Only the top two are guaranteed a ticket to the World Cup, with the team in third going into a playoff.
“Unfortunately we couldn’t get the three points to celebrate with the fans,” Australia forward Mathew Leckie said following the Saudi stalemate.
“They defended really well. It was just one of those games the ball didn’t want to go in.—Agencies
