Can Australia Claim a Breakthrough Win Against UAE?

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27/03/17

Can Australia Claim a Breakthrough Win Against UAE?

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Asian qualifying for the 2018 World Cup has been tough and things will not get any easier as teams enter the final stages of the third round.

A total of 12 teams progressed from the second round and have been split into two groups of 6 teams. Australia have been placed in Group B, along with Saudi Arabia, Japan, United Arab Emirates, Iraq and Thailand.

On paper, this would seem straight forward enough, with the top two teams qualifying automatically for the 2018 World Cup finals. However, the reality is much different and with a huge amount of travelling to do for their players, Australia have found this group to be very difficult.

The Socceroo’s have qualified for the previous three World Cup Finals and although their most recent performance was poor, it would be a huge step backwards, if they were not to make it this time.

As things stand in Group B, Australia are third, with 10 points from their six games played. They remain undefeated but have found winning games difficult. This was underlined in their most recent fixture, which saw them draw 1-1 with Iraq. The match was played in Tehran on a very poor pitch but having taken the lead, Australia would have expected to see out the game.

However, Iraq found an equaliser with 14 minutes left on the clock and despite a somewhat frantic finish, neither team could find a winner and the match ended level. Having won their first two matches of the group, Australia have drawn their last four, including a very disappointing 2-2 draw in Thailand.

Ange Postecoglu knows his team cannot afford to keep drawing matches, especially against teams they are expected to beat, if Australia are to make it to Russia in 2018. With both Saudi Arabia and Japan both winning last time out and expected to do so again in this round of fixtures, anything but a win for Australia, could seem them cut adrift from the top two.

United Arab Emirates travel to Sydney having lost 2-0 at home to Japan in their previous game. This was a game they needed to win, if they were to give themselves a good chance of qualifying for the 2018 World Cup. The Japanese took the lead after just 14 minutes and UAE struggled to find an equaliser, before Japan took the game away from them with a second goal.

Having beaten Japan away from home in the first round of matches, UAE will not be fazed by a trip to Australia. Their problems have come defensively and they have kept one clean sheet in the group. Therefore, UAE will need to score at least one goal, if they are to take a point or more from this match.

With Saudi Arabia and Japan likely to move on to 16 points after this round of games, whoever loses this one will find themselves struggling to catch up. With the home advantage, you must fancy Australia to claim the win but it is going to be a tight and nervy affair in Sydney and the real winners could be those teams already sitting at the top of Group B.