10 Oct Cahill Heads Socceroos Through To Playoffs

The Socceroos, through a Tim Cahill header, have officially gone through to the final stage of qualifying for the World Cup after defeating Syria 2-1 at ANZ Stadium tonight.

The Socceroos had a disappointing start with Omar Al Soma scoring the first goal for the visitors in the 6th minute, silencing the Socceroos faithful in the stands.

An early injury to Brad Smith saw Aaron Mooy come on in the 11th minute, who was easily fired up with some early possession through the midfield.

Socceroos equalised in the 12th minute through Tim Cahill after a fantastic cross from Matthew Leckie, which brought his total to 49 international goals with the Socceroos. Momentum had swung in favour of the Aussies.

The Socceroos back 3, through Sainsbury and Degenek, had to hold off the Syrian attack halfway through the first half, with the visitors trying to fire back and regain the lead.

The Socceroos had opportunities through James Troisi and Robbie Kruse in the latter part of the first half to snatch the lead heading into Half Time, but at the end of 45 it was 1-1.

It was end to end stuff from both sides in the first 10-15 minutes of the second half, with a few set piece free kicks not going the Socceroos way.

Aaron Mooy and Tim Cahill were trying desperately to get the Australians in front throughout the second half, but the Syrians had the answers, playing on the flanks and getting into space.

After 90 minutes we were at a deadlock, and the only way this game was going to be decided was through another 30 minutes of action, with a potential penalty shootout if no team scored after 120 minutes.

Socceroos midifelder Nikita Rukavytsya had an opportunity in the first half of extra time to put the Socceroos through to the next stage of qualification for Russia 2018, but the Aaron Mooy cross went wide of the mark with the score still 1-1 at the end of the first 15 of extra time.

It took 4 minutes of the second half, but an assist from Robbie Kruse to a Tim Cahill header erupted the 42,000 strong fans at ANZ Stadium and the Socceroos took the lead 2-1.

The moment! #AUSvSYR #GoSocceroos
@FOXFOOTBALL pic.twitter.com/S1OwNZAtiu

— Caltex Socceroos (@Socceroos) October 10, 2017

Syria pressed hard in the latter part of the second half, with Omar Al Soma getting a free kick from about 20 yards out in a spot where he could easily score from. The set piece free hit the right side of the post and went out for a throw in, and the Socceroos survived.

Australia will now play the winner of either Panama, Houndras or the USA in the final playoff depending on results in the CONCAF tomorrow lunchtime, but it looks like we could be facing Panama with USA tipped to finish third in their group.