Socceroos and Saudis stalemate leaves door ajar for both

Michael Lynch: Australia and Saudi Arabia are both as you were in the race to secure a direct World Cup qualification spot

There is much expectation in Saudi Arabia that the national football team, at the forefront of a massive image remaking project being undertaken by the desert kingdom, will spearhead that mission by making a splash on the global sporting stage.

They did so in extraordinary fashion in Qatar, defeating eventual champions Argentina in a group stage match in the last World Cup, and are confident of building on that project by qualifying for the next two World Cups and hosting the 2034 edition.

Their course this time round has been bumpy with only one win in four matches so far, and that against struggling China.

But backed by a small but vociferous band of supporters, the Saudis showed little fear, at least in a confident opening, in a packed AAMI Park where the bulk of supporters were willing, hoping and desperately desiring the Socceroos to continue their revival under new coach Tony Popovic, a revival which has justifiably rekindled hopes of direct qualification for the next tournament after such a poor start.

Recently reappointed Saudi boss Herve Renard had admitted pre game - perhaps honestly but nonetheless a little surprisingly - that Australia and his team were the two major protagonists in the battle to finish runner up in this group to Japan, suggesting that the Samurai Blue were already too far ahead to be reined in and guaranteed to secure at least one of the top two spots which would guarantee qualification for the 2026 World Cup.

This match, he said, would be pivotal in determining who would take that position.

But rather than consolidate, pack the defence and look to go home with at least a point the Saudis began the game brightly and confidently, pressing with discipline in forward areas and controlling the midfield with a mixture of finesse and fight as Australia, who surrendered possession too easily and often, battled to impose themselves on the game.

Their technical quality enabled the visitors to find pockets in tight areas with their hosts reduced to long balls and set pieces in the early exchanges. They did not, however, manage to create any clear cut chances while they were in the early ascendency - an ascendency that was to prove relatively fleeting.

Australia hoped they had a penalty in the 12th minute when Saudi goalkeeper Ahmed Alkassar flattened Mitch Duke as the latter chased down a long ball forward. Initially referee Adeal Ali Alnaqbi pointed to the spot but after a four minute VAR delay a free kick just outside the penalty area was awarded.

From the resultant set piece the Saudis failed to clear and the ball fell to Harry Souttar, who snatched at his shot and drove over the bar.

Jason Geria, who has impressed since being drafted into the Socceroo defence, almost played his side into trouble when he was dispossessed trying to carry the ball into midfield, forcing goalkeeper Joe Gauci into a smart save at his ear post to deny Saudi midfielder Nasser Al Dawsari.

That was symptomatic of the early difficulties Australia faced as they tried to play out of their own half, the Saudi forwards and midfielders working overtime to deny them the time and space to build up flowing attacking moves.

However Australia did begin to get more into the contest midway through the half with Ajdin Hrustic beginning to get on the ball more effectively. The midfielder had an excellent chance only to be denied by Alkassar, but it signalled a change in the rhythm of this game.

Gauci was out smartly to deny Marwan Al Sahafi by diving bravely at his feet to knock the ball wide, then blocking the follow up shot from Saud Abdulhamid although neither would have counted as an offside call was made.

In the dying moments of the half Australia had a terrific chance to hit the front when Jackson Irvine intercepted a pass outside the Saudi area: the Australia captain looked to be in two minds whether to drive forward or try to find Hrustic in space. He opted for the former, and curled a shot just over the bar.

It was a much more threatening Australia who ratcheted up the temperature in the second period, playing at a greater pace and with the intensity with which they had finished the first half.

But for all of both sides huffing and puffing, neither managed to create much in the way of opportunities early in the second period, Aiden O'Neill's shot blocked while the Saudis scrambled to keep out crosses and through balls.

The introduction of substitute Nishan Velupillay gave Australia pace and directness, and the young Melbourne Victory forward, a goalscorer on international debut against China, was causing the Saudi rearguard problems with his direct running.

He was, however, injured, and had to go off alongside the hard working Mitch Duke as Popovic brought on Brandon Borrello and Anthony Caceres as Australia pressed for the all important goal that would put them into a strong second place in this group.

And with six minutes remaining they could have, probably should have, got the goal that would have made all the difference.

Borrello sprung the Saudi defensive line with an excellently timed run on to a through ball and hared towards goal. As Alkassar advanced he had the option to chip the onrushing goalkeeper or slide the ball to Riley McGree: the former might have been the better option, but he chose the latter only for McGree to be denied at the last by a desperate challenge from Hassan Al Tambakti.

That wasn't the end of the drama as the tension mounted in the dying moments. When Australia failed to clear a cross Sultan Al Ghannam fired a low shot through a thicket of legs which beat Gauci's dive only for the ''goal'' to be disallowed because of Ali Al Bulayhi was ruled offside.

McGree almost stole all three points in the final minutes of stoppage time with a spectacular overhead kick that flashed just past the post.

In the end neither side was able to break the deadlock. The race for second spot - if not first - remains well and truly alive.