World Cup qualifier: Australia draw 1-1 with China
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Australia were knocked out of the World Cup qualifying standings on Tuesday after a 1-1 draw with China against Sharjah.
The Socceroos were on their way to their first win in three games thanks to a header from Mitchell Duke in the first half, but Wu Lei’s penalty, finally a VAR review suggested that defender James Jeggo managed the ball, with 20 minutes left, China equalized.
“I don’t think we’ve done enough tonight,” said Australian goalkeeper and captain Mathew Ryan. “We didn’t create enough clear opportunities. Of course, there is a debate, but there are other moments during the match where we need to be better if we want to remove a result.
Australia, trying to play their fifth straight World Cup match, dropped to third with 11 points from six Group B matches, just one point behind Japan, who beat Omani 1-0 in the second. Saudi Arabia is the leader, with 16 points, after a 1-0 win over Vietnam last, and is on track to finish sixth.
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Only the first two of the six teams have a guaranteed place in Qatar in November 2022. The two third-placed qualifiers go to the playoffs when the winner meets a team from another confederation.
Saudi Arabia started strong in Hanoi, and 30 minutes later Saleh Al-Shehri’s header from inside the area was blocked by Bi Tan Truong at the Vietnam gate, but the ball was crossed.
Fahad Al-Muwallad increased the visitors’ lead by putting a volley away after a pass from the right.
Japan needed Junya Ito’s goal late to take Oman’s points and take second place. Oman remains fourth with seven points, two behind China in fifth.
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In Group A, Iran and South Korea want to sew the top two spots. Iran beat Syria’s bottom side 3-0 thanks to goals from Sardar Azmoun, Ehsan Hajisafi and Ali Gholizadeh to boost them to 16 points.
South Korea beat Iraq Qatar 3-0 to stay two points behind and continue their tenth World Cup match. Lee Jae-sung opened the scoring before the break, while goals from the second half from Son Heung-min and Jung Woo-young sealed the victory. This means that South Korea is eight points behind the United Arab Emirates, which is second.
Ali Mabkhout’s late penalty gave Lebanon a 1-0 win over Lebanon in Sidon, the first of the stage. It was enough to move his first and only World Cup qualifier in 1990 over Lebanon. Iraq is in fifth place with four points, two behind Syria’s bottom group.
The playoffs will begin in January.
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