User login
AUSTRALIA EYEING FIFTH STRAIGHT W/CUP APPEARANCE
Australia have a fifth straight World Cup appearance in sight ahead of their Asian playoff tie with the United Arab Emirates (UAE)on Tuesday. The Asian playoff tie is also known as the fourth round in the Asian region ahead of the World Cup 2022 tournament.
The Australians warmed up for the UAE clash with a 2-1 win over Jordan in an international friendly played at the Al Wakrah Sports Complex in Al Wakrah, Qataron the first day of this month. Australia had to come from behind to win the game. Musa Al-Taamari gave Jordan the lead on 17 minutes before Sunderland centre back Bailey Wright ensured that the Australians went into the break on level terms with the equaliser five from minutes from the break. AwarMabil scored the decisive goal for Australia midway into the second half to ensure that they will go into the UAE game on a winning note. On their part, UAE prepared for the playoff clash with Australia by playing a 1-1 draw with Gambia at home on Sunday.
Australia settled for the playoff route after finishing third in their group as far as the third round of the Asian qualifiers for the Qatar 2022 World Cup is concerned. The Australians finished behind Japan and Saudi Arabia in Group B after they failed to build on a fantastic start of winning their first three games. They paid the price for a run of one win in their last five games in the group including zero win in their last three games.
UAE finished third in Group A in the third round of the Asian qualifiers to seal their playoff tie with Australia. The winner of the tie between UAE and Australia will take on South American team Peru in the inter-confederation playoffs on Monday, June 13 to determine who will make the World Cup tournament in Qatar.