SYDNEY: Sydney’s Olympic Stadium will host the second leg of Australia’s World Cup qualifier against Syria in October and also the home tie in the intercontinental play-off if Ange Postecoglou’s side make it that far.
The Socceroos failed to qualify automatically for next year’s finals in Russia after they could only sneak a 2-1 win over Thailand in their final match in Melbourne on Tuesday.
Saudi Arabia then beat Group B winners Japan 1-0 in Jeddah later on Tuesday to clinch the second automatic spot, consigning Australia to the third-placed playoff against Syria. “We are all disappointed that we did not achieve direct qualification from our group but we are confident we can still make it to Russia,” Football Federation Australia Chief Executive David Gallop said on Thursday. “It’s just a longer, harder road but we are focused on supporting Ange, his support staff and the playing group.”
The first leg of the final round of Asian qualifying will be played on October 5, with the second leg in Sydney on October 10. Syria have been playing their ‘home’ World Cup qualifiers in Malaysia because of the security situation in the war-torn country. — Reuters
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