Socceroos draw 2-2 against Oman, hurting World Cup qualification hopes
The Socceroos have suffered a heavy blow to their hopes of automatic World Cup qualification, with a 2-2 draw against Oman in Muscat.
Aaron Mooy Sport News
Setback for Australia after Oman draw, while South Korea book their World Cup spot
Australia's hopes of automatic qualification for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar were rocked by a late Abdullah Fawaz penalty as Oman claimed a 2-2 draw with Graham Arnold's side in Muscat on Tuesday. Jamie Maclaren's 15th-minute penalty put Australia ahead but Fawaz levelled with a drive into the top corner in the 54th minute. Aaron Mooy restored Australia's lead 11 minutes from time when he shot past Faiyz Al Rashidi, only for Fawaz to score from the spot following Fran Karacic's foul on Muhsen Al Ghassani. Australia remain third in Group B of the Asian qualifiers but are now four points behind Saudi Arabia and three adrift of Japan, with games against the leading pair to come in the final two rounds of games in March.
Socceroos coach Graham Arnold names 25-man squad for next week's clash with Vietnam
The fear of players testing positive for COVID-19 as they travel to Australia will be keeping Socceroos coach Graham Arnold awake over the weekend as his squad assembles in Melbourne ahead of crucial World Cup qualifiers.