Syria 1 Australia 1: Late penalty keeps Qasioun Eagles' World Cup hopes alive

Omar Al Soma celebrates Syria's equaliser
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James Benge5 October 2017

Syria remain in the hunt for next summer's World Cup after an Omar Al Soma penalty secured them a 1-1 draw with Australia in the AFC play-off.

Robbie Kruse had given the visitors a first-half lead before Syria fought back in the second half to leave the tie finely poised at the halfway stage.

The Qasioun Eagles, who have been playing their qualifiers in Malaysia due to the civil war in their homeland, have never qualified for a World Cup and still require a result in Australia next week to end that wait.

But their hopes seemed slim when Australia claimed the lead five minutes before the interval when Matthew Leckie burst down the right before crossing low to Kruse, whose delicate flick took the ball past Syrian goalkeeper Ibrahim Alma.

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The Socceroos should have doubled their lead early in the second half when Tomi Juric contrived to hit the post twice in a matter of seconds.

Al Soma's powerful header seemed bound to draw the hosts level with 13 minutes left but Ryan somehow deflected the ball onto the post.

Pressure eventually told when Leckie pushed Al Soma in the air to earn a penalty. The man who won the spot-kick smashed the equaliser into the top right corner.

The second leg of the qualifier will be held in Sydney next Tuesday. The winner of this playoff will face a side from North and Central America – likely one of Panama, the United States or Honduras – for a place in Russia next summer.

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