SYDNEY: Veteran striker Tim Cahill scored twice to help Australia to a 2-1 extra-time triumph over Syria in the second leg of the World Cup Asian play-off on Tuesday.
The win in Sydney, which secured a 3-2 aggregate victory for the Australians, means the Socceroos keep alive their hopes of a spot in Russia next year and ends Syria’s chances of a debut World Cup appearance.
Syria stunned the hosts in the 6th minute when Omar al Soma scored from close range after the Socceroos gave away the ball in their own half.
Australia’s all-time top scorer Tim Cahill then levelled in the 13th, heading a cross from Mathew Leckie past Syria’s goalkeeper Zaher Medane.
Despite dominating possession and territory for the rest of the game, the hosts were unable to break the deadlock.
Tom Rogic had two chances back-to-back to put the game beyond doubt in the 69th minute but Syria’s defence held firm as it has done so often throughout the war-torn country’s inspiring qualifying campaign.
Just like the first-leg on Thursday, which was played in Malaysia rather than Syria for security reasons, the scores were locked at 1-1 at the end of 90 minutes.
Syria were reduced to 10 men just four minutes into extra-time, after Mahmoud al Mawas picked up a second yellow card for a heavy challenge on Robbie Kruse.
In the 109th, Cahill scored again from a header, this time after a deft cross from Kruse, to send the home fans into raptures.
The goal was his 50th for the Socceroos, in a national team career that has lasted well over 10 years.
A late free-kick from Omar al Soma hit the right post, after Socceroos keeper Mathew Ryan was soundly beaten, but the ball sprung out and the hosts hung on to win.
Cahill, who was voted man of the match, told broadcaster Fox Sports after the game that he was happy to play 120 minutes of football, despite his 37 years.
“I’ll run to the end for these players and for this manager and in the end you get your rewards,” Cahill said.
“For me this is what football is all about and I’m not going to waste an opportunity.”
Australia will now take on the fourth-placed team in the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (Concacaf) qualifying in November for a spot at next year’s World Cup. That could mean a match against Panama, Honduras or, less likely, the United States.
“It shouldn’t really matter who we play,” Cahill said. “I really feel that now we have to take the next level as a group of players, to really believe in ourselves, because this four-year journey has been amazing.”
But for Cahill’s team-mate Trent Sainsbury, the play-off victory, which keeps Australia in the hunt for its fourth consecutive World Cup appearance, was more a relief than anything else.
“We had to do it the hard way, but at least we are doing it. That’s the main thing,” the Australian defender said. — dpa
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