Australia into last 16 of Asian Cup after Jackson Irvine goal edges Syria

18-Jan-2024 14:14:45 | Guardian

Socceroos likely to top Group B after 1-0 victory in Qatar
But Graham Arnold’s side have much room for improvement

Given the success that he’s had with naturalising players, Australia coach Graham Arnold may want to investigate getting the post used whenever his side plays Syria a permanent gig. Only five minutes into what would end as a 1-0 win over the Qasioun Eagles, secured by Jackson Irvine’s 59th-minute strike, the woodwork was the only thing standing between the Socceroos and an early deficit: Ibrahim Hesar teeing up Pablo Sabbag to hammer an effort off the frame of the goal. Just over six years on from the post keeping Australia’s dreams of the 2018 World Cup alive when it denied Omar Al-Somah’s last-second free-kick in an AFC qualifying playoff, it denied Syria again.

It was a rare moment of attack from Héctor Cúper’s side across the first 40 minutes but it was also the best opportunity either side would create at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium in Qatar until Irvine’s strike. Arnold’s side dominated on the stat sheet throughout much of the game but created very little that gave Ahmad Madania pause in the Syrian goal. So little, in fact, that it wasn’t until the opener that they would put a shot on target -- and that would be their only one for the game. It echoed the Socceroo performance against India in their opening fixture, one featuring another early scare via a Sunil Chhetri header.