Jeddah: Former AFC Player of the Year Nassir Al Shamrani came off the bench to maintain Saudi Arabia’s unbeaten start to the final phase of qualifying for the 2018 FIFA World Cup finals when his goal 11 minutes from time earned Bert van Marwijk’s side a 2-2 draw with Australia on Thursday evening.
Al Shamrani scored from close range to level the scores after Tomi Juric had put Australia in front for the first time in the 71st minute of an enthralling encounter at the King Abdullah Sports City. Taisir Al Jassem gave Saudi Arabia the lead after just five minutes only for Trent Sainsbury to equalise for Australia on the stroke of halftime.
“It was an exciting game as I expected,” said van Marwijk. “In the first 20 minutes we played the way that we wanted to play but, in the next minutes, we didn't have a good performance. We played with high pressure and we scored beautiful goals, but you can't play with the same performance for 90 minutes.
“The two goals of Australia came from individual mistakes but I congratulate the players for their comeback. It was hard to build attacks from the back and that is why we used long balls. The result is positive for us and I'm satisfied with it.”
Both teams went into the game with perfect records following their opening two qualifiers and it was Saudi Arabia who were quickest out of the blocks.
Within five minutes the home side took the lead when Nawaf Al Abed’s clever through ball released Yahya Al Sheri, whose cut back found Al Jassem unmarked 12 yards from goal and the Al Ahli man made no mistake with his right foot strike.
Van Marwijk’s side continued to dominate the opening exchanges but, as the half wore on the Socceroos established a foot hold in the game.
With two minutes remaining in the half Brad Smith struck the outside of the post after a powerful, surging run towards the Saudi penalty area area and, on the stroke of halftime, the Australians levelled as Sainsbury rose to head in Aaron Mooy’s swinging corner.
The outcome remained in the balance throughout the second half, with Mathew Spiranovic twice blocking Al Abed’s attempts before Juric gave the Australians the lead 19 minutes from the end.
Massimo Luongo, a second half substitute for Mathew Leckie, released Robbie Kruse down the right side and the Bayer Leverkusen man played an angled ball towards the far post that left the Saudi defence flat footed before Juric pushed his shot over the line.
Australia’s lead was only to last eight minutes, however, as the Saudis struck back. The Green Falcons were pressing hard for the equaliser and, in the 79th minute, Al Shamrani levelled the scores when he redirected Hassan Fallatah’s shot from outside the area beyond Maty Ryan in the Australia goal.
Ryan was called into action just two minutes later to deny Fahad Al Muwallad with a fine low save as the Saudis continued to apply pressure while Australia pushed at the other end in a frantic finale, but in the end both sides were forced to settle for a share of the points.
“Not getting off to an ideal start didn’t help things and conceding the goal as well,” said Australia coach Ange Postecoglou. “They came out of the blocks pretty quickly, but I thought we worked our way back into the game really well and got the goal we deserved just before halftime.
“Then we looked in control and once we got the second we really should’ve maintained that. We lost our composure a couple of times and they came into it as well, they had their moments with the big crowd behind them and they were giving it everything. It’s a good point but i just feel we could have got more out of it.”
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