Patrick Brischetto
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The Socceroos have survived a late and dramatic scare in a goalless draw with Saudi Arabia in World Cup qualifying.
After spurning a number of good chances in the second half, Saudi Arabia thought they found a winner deep into stoppage time through Sultan Al-Ghanam, but his cracking volley was eventually chalked off for a narrow offside in the buildup.
It capped off an intriguing, if at times low quality, affair between two sides who have struggled in World Cup qualifying to date.
The match was notably the first for Herve Renard in his return as Saudi Arabia coach. His side were well in control for the first half an hour of the match without creating many chances, but Australia finished the half strongly and could have gone in ahead at the break after chances from Ajdin Hrustic and Jackson Irvine.
They continued to create more chances in the second half, and had their best moment through substitute Brandon Borrello as he broke the Saudis high line to tee up Riley McGree, but desperate defence from the away side denied the Socceroos.
It was the theme of the match as a well-drilled if unexciting Saudi side held off an Australia team who are still finding their feet going forward under Tony Popovic, though they will be pleased with the clean sheet.
The draw means both sides now sit on six points in Group C, with Australia for the time being sitting in second place; whilst the draw is not a bad result for them, it puts the pressure on their next match away from home against Bahrain on Wednesday morning.
The Sporting News followed the Socceroos vs. Saudi Arabia match live, providing score updates and commentary
Latest live updates | Team news and lineups | Where to watch where you are
Venue: AAMI Park, Melbourne
Confirmed lineups:
Socceroos (3-4-2-1, right to left): Joe Gauci (GK) — Jason Geria, Harry Souttar, Cameron Burgess — Lewis Miller, Aiden O’Neill, Jackson Irvine, Jordy Bos — Riley McGree, Ajdin Hrustic — Mitch Duke
Saudi Arabia (4-3-3, right to left): Ahmed Al-Kassar (GK) — Saud Abdulhamid, Hassan Al-Tambakti, Ali Al-Bulahi, Yasser Al-Shahrani — Nasser Al-Dawsari, Musab Al-Juwayr, Faisal Al Ghamdi — Marwan Al-Sahafi, Firas Al-Buraikan, Saleh Al-Shehri
MORE: Socceroos World Cup qualifying fixtures, results | Socceroos squad for November World Cup qualifiers
90+6 minutes: Relief for Australia as VAR backs up the on-field decision. Ali Al-Bulayhi was in the line of sight of Gauci whilst in an offside position, sparing the Socceroos’ blushes for their wastefulness in front of goal. Down the other end, Riley McGree goes for a spectacular bicycle kick, but it goes just wide.
90+4 minutes: DRAMA IN MELBOURNE! Saudi Arabia have the ball in the net through Sultan Al Ghanam, but the flag goes up for offside and interrupts the crazy celebrations of the away side. VAR is looking at it, Australia will pray the decision is upheld…
90+2 minutes: A careless slide tackle from Geria sees him cop a yellow card and gives the away team a chance from a free kick late on…
90th minute: Another change for the Socceroos, as Kusini Yengi replaces Aiden O’Neill, as five minutes of added time are announced.
88th minute: Two defensive changes from the away side see Alsaluli and Al-Ghannam come on for Al-Sahafi and Alghamdi.
84th minute: Somehow the Socceroos don’t score! Borrello breaches the Saudis offside trap and tries to roll it across to McGree, but somehow Abdulhamid recovers and pulls off a vital tackle to deny an almost certain goal.
82nd minute: Another change for the Socceroos, as Aziz Behich is on for Jordy Bos. This comes just after Jason Geria sends a header from a corner wide.
71st minute: In a blow for Australia, Velupillay – who rolled his ankle in his previous attack – has gone down again and will need to be replaced. He looked good for the Socceroos, and responsibility to have a similar impact will fall to Brandon Borrello. Anthony Caceres is also making his Socceroos debut, as he replaces Mitch Duke.
68th minute: Another ball over the top finds Velupillay, who tries to weave his way past the Saudi defence, but he is unable to get a shot away and eventually gives away a foul.
65th minute: Another crucial block from Saudi Arabia! This time it’s Abdulhamid on McGree. To add insult to injury, McGree then commits a foul and is booked.
63rd minute: The second yellow of the night goes to Al-Bulayhi for a cynical foul that stops a counter attack.
60th minute: Velupillay tees up McGree in the area, but his shot is blocked importantly by Tambakti.
57th minute: The first two changes for the Saudis see Al-Hammdan and Al-Khaibari come on for Al-Shehri and Aljuwayar.
55th minute: It’s been a back and forward half without too much happening, a very transitional game. The key midfield players from both sides are being bypassed for the moment.
46th minute: Al-Shehri has a shot straight away that is charged down by the Socceroos. The corner comes to nothing for the Saudis, though.
46th minute: Second half begins, who will break this game open? Could it be Nishan Velupillay? The hometown hero has come on for Hrustic, who picked up what looked to be a groin injury in the closing stages of the opening half.
HALF TIME: The Socceroos have had six shots to Saudi Arabia’s two, and have had three golden opportunities to take the lead. It’s been a common theme for Australia in recent years, and tonight is not a night where they can do the same given what’s at stake.
45+6 minutes: Another win high up the pitch, this time from Irvine, gives the Socceroos another chance. The skipper opts to go himself but blazes over. Mitch Duke was in space and was potentially the better option there.
45+4 minutes: Al-Sahafi breaks the offside trap and tries to round Gauci, but the keeper stays strong and puts him off. A follow up then falls to Abdulhamid, which is also saved by Gauci, but the flag then belatedly goes up for offside.
45th minute: Best chance of the half for Australia! A slip from the Saudis allows O’Neill to win possession high up the pitch. The ball falls to Hrustic, but he almost has too much time on the ball, and badly scuffs the shot into the arms of Al-Kassar.
Given the amount of stoppages in this first period, there are six minutes of added time.
36th minute: A much better spell from Australia as they finally string a few passes together and force the Saudis back. Hrustic eventually gets a shot away, but its charged down by the defence. Hrustic and McGree need to get on the ball more if the Socceroos are to get ahead in this one.
27th minute: Sloppy play from Geria allows Saudi Arabia a chance through Al-Dawsari, and he forces Gauci into the first save of the match. Australia not as compact and efficient as Tony Popovic would like at both ends of the pitch in this one.
22nd minute: Saudi Arabia dominating the ball so far, the Socceroos will want to change that and take control of proceedings soon. The one plus is the Saudis haven’t created too much despite the weight of possession.
18th minute: After a delay for Al-Kassar to receive treatment, Australia have another free kick chance, and the loose ball falls to Souttar. The towering centre back is off balance, though and lashes the effort over the bar. Another good chance goes begging for the Socceroos…
14th minute: After review, it’s found the contact was outside the box and the penalty is overturned. Australia want further sanction against the goalkeeper, as he has denied a goalscoring opportunity, but it seems there will be no extra punishment for Al-Kassar other than a yellow card.
13th minute: The Socceroos have a penalty! A Burgess long ball finds the chase of Mitch Duke, and he gets there just ahead of Ahmed Al-Kassar, who fouls him and – in the eyes of the referee – in the box and he points to the spot. VAR is having a look, though…
11th minute: Saudi Arabia have a couple of forays in Australia’s territory and cause a bit of nerves at the back, but the Socceroos manage to deal with the danger well enough. A bit of a messy start on both sides to this game, a lack of control all round.
7th minute: A handball from the Saudis give Australia a free-kick in a good position, but Hrustic’s effort is poor and the chance is wasted.
5th minute: A tight opening few minutes to this one, with both teams having a couple of spells in possession. Nothing clear cut yet, though.
Three minutes before kickoff: The anthems are done, the crowd is ready to go, kick off is not far away!
10 minutes before kickoff: A reminder of the stakes of this match: with both sides on five points, a win for either would see them go three points clear in second spot and the final automatic qualification spot. So, there’s a kot on the line for this one. Australia will back themselves in front of a sold out crowd in Melbourne against an out of form Saudi side, but they must be wary of the impact Renard will have.
20 minutes before kickoff: Tonight’s match represents Herve Renard’s return to the role of Saudi Arabia coach, one he previously held between 2019 and 2023. He most famously led the Saudis to a 2-1 win over eventual World Cup winners Argentina at Qatar 2022, with his rousing half-time speech during that game going viral.
The Hervé Renard half-time speech that changed the course for Saudi Arabia against Argentina ❤ pic.twitter.com/inIzi3JtCD
He was actually in Australia just last year for the Women’s World Cup, as he was in charge of his native France. He led them to the quarter-finals, where they went down to the Matildas in one of the greatest nights in Australian football history. He will be hoping for a different result tonight, the Aussies will want more of the same.
40 minutes before kickoff: Some quick stats and facts for you as we wait for kickoff: Saudi Arabia have only beaten Australia twice in 10 meetings, though one of those wins was the last time the sides met in 2022. On that occasion Saudi Arabia won 1-0 in Jeddah on their way to comfortably qualifying automatically, and condemning the Socceroos to the playoff route. The Saudis have never won in Australia, though, with their last two meetings in the country ending in a draw and a defeat. According to Sportsbet, the Socceroos are heavy favourites to continue that run, ranked a $1.95 chance to win, with Saudi Arabia $4.10 outsiders.
1hr 15 minutes before kickoff: The Socceroos side is in, and there is just one change to the side that drew with Japan. That change is in midfield, with Aiden O’Neill coming in alongside Jackson Irvine, beating out the likes of debutants Max Balard and Anthony Caceres. Joe Gauci starting in goal seems to show he has cemented the number one spot for the time being.
📋 Here’s how we line up to face Saudi Arabia 👊
🇦🇺 v 🇸🇦 – 8pm AEDT
📱💻📺 10, 10 Play, Paramount+#AUSvKSA #Socceroos pic.twitter.com/ZO9qsG3nka
Saudi Arabia’s team is in as well, and there are a few changes to the side that drew to Bahrain last month. Salem Al-Dawsari misses out through injury and is replaced in the middle of the park by Musab Al-Juwayr, who makes just his 10th start for the national team. Saleh Al-Shehri is also elevated to the attack by Herve Renard, lining up alongside Firas Al-Buraikan and Faisal Al-Ghamdi.
📝 Here is Hervé Renard’s starting XI for our match against Australia! #AUSvKSA | #AsianQualifiers pic.twitter.com/CHIZk5r3gf
2 hours before kickoff: Hello and welcome to Sporting News’ live coverage of Australia’s huge World Cup qualifier against Saudi Arabia. It is close to a must win match for both teams, who have been underwhelming in the third round of qualifiers to date, and both have different coaches to the ones they started with! Tony Popovic managed to secure a win against China and a credible draw over Japan to put the Socceroos back in the hunt for automatic qualification, whilst Herve Renard is taking charge of his first game at the helm of the Saudi’s since the 2022 World Cup. The Socceroos’ record against the big Asian sides has been poor in recent years, but that changing tonight could help put them in the drivers seat for the second automatic qualification spot, and who thought we would have been saying that when Graham Arnold walked out! It should be an intriguing and thrilling match in Melbourne, who will finish on top?
IT’S MATCHDAY IN MELBOURNE! 🙌
🆚 Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦
⏰ 8:00pm AEDT
🏟️ Melbourne Rectangular Stadium
🚪 Gates Open 6:30pm
📱💻📺 10, 10 Play, Paramount+#Socceroos #AUSvKSA #VisitMelbourne #VisitVictoria pic.twitter.com/MKCyW5h9jJ
Popovic has played Joe Gauci in goal so far over captain Maty Ryan, and has continued to do so tonight. Just one change from the draw with Japan, as Aiden O’Neill slots into the midfield besides captain Jackson Irvine.
Socceroos confirmed starting XI (3-4-2-1, right to left): Joe Gauci (GK) — Jason Geria, Harry Souttar, Cameron Burgess — Lewis Miller, Aiden O’Neill, Jackson Irvine, Jordy Bos — Riley McGree, Ajdin Hrustic — Mitch Duke
Socceroos subs: Maty Ryan, Paul Izzo, Milos Degenek, Kye Rowles, Anthony Caceres, Nishan Velupillay, Brandon Borrello, Kusini Yengi, Aziz Behich, Patrick Yazbek, Max Balard, Rhyan Grant
Saleh Al-Shehri leads the attack in the absence of Salem Al-Dawsari. Saud Abdulhamid retains his place at right back, and Faisal Al-Ghamdi will look to influence the game from midfield.
Manager Herve Renard may make the last-minute call to pick either Stefan Al-Shehri or Ayman Ahmed on the wing.
Saudi Arabia confirmed starting XI (4-3-3, right to left): Ahmed Al-Kassar (GK) — Saud Abdulhamid, Hassan Al-Tambakti, Ali Al-Bulahi, Yasser Al-Shahrani — Nasser Al-Dawsari, Musab Al-Juwayr, Faisal Al Ghamdi — Marwan Al-Sahafi, Firas Al-Buraikan, Saleh Al-Shehri
Saudi Arabia subs: Hamed Al-Shanqiti, Ali Lajami, Awn Al-Slalui, Hamad Al-Yami, Saad Al-Nasser, Sultan Al-Ghanam, Abdullah Al-Hamddan, Abdullah Alkhaibari, Ayman Fallatah, Abdullah Radif, Mohammed Al-Qahtani
The Socceroos’ crucial World Cup qualifier was available for fans to watch for free on TV, as it was broadcast on Channel 10.
The game was also available for free on 10’s streaming platform 10Play, and is also available to customers of Paramount+.
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Patrick is a journalist currently based in Sydney who covered the 2022 FIFA World Cup and 2023 Women’s World Cup for The Sporting News. He also holds a position at the Western Sydney Wanderers FC, and is slowly attempting to convince the world that the A-League is the greatest sporting competition.
