Given the success that he’s had with naturalising players, Australia coach Graham Arnold may want to investigate getting the post used whenever his side plays Syria a permanent gig. Only five minutes into what would end as a 1-0 win over the Qasioun Eagles, secured by Jackson Irvine’s 59th-minute strike, the woodwork was the only thing standing between the Socceroos and an early deficit: Ibrahim Hesar teeing up Pablo Sabbag to hammer an effort off the frame of the goal. Just over six years on from the post keeping Australia’s dreams of the 2018 World Cup alive when it denied Omar Al-Somah’s last-second free-kick in an AFC qualifying playoff, it denied Syria again.
It was a rare moment of attack from Héctor Cúper’s side across the first 40 minutes but it was also the best opportunity either side would create at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium in Qatar until Irvine’s strike. Arnold’s side dominated on the stat sheet throughout much of the game but created very little that gave Ahmad Madania pause in the Syrian goal. So little, in fact, that it wasn’t until the opener that they would put a shot on target -- and that would be their only one for the game. It echoed the Socceroo performance against India in their opening fixture, one featuring another early scare via a Sunil Chhetri header.
Indeed, it’s almost impossible not to draw comparisons between the Socceroos wins in their opening two games at this Asian Cup, given that they’ve mostly followed the same script. The six points gleaned mean that Arnold’s side have punched their tickets to the round of 16, probably as the top-place finishers in Group B, but neither of the performances to this point have been of the sort that suggests the Australians are to be feared at this tournament.
Just as was the case against the Blue Tigers, Australia monopolised possession and field position but, just like in that game, they looked devoid of incisiveness and creativity when it came down to that final, crucial move into the box. There was an energetic start and Jordy Bos, who moved into the starting lineup after scoring against India, showed flashes (at least when he wasn’t being moved onto the right). But the Socceroos’ most likely route to goal again looked like it would come not from a set-piece or one of the rare moments where they could force a turnover from Syria with their counter-press and look to transition.
And just like India, it was Irvine capitalising on a moment of fortune that finally provided the breakthrough that allowed the Australians to exhale.
That’s not to say there wasn’t skill involved in the goal; Boyle’s sharp touches to take him first around Ammar Ramadan and then Ezequiel Ham as he drove in from the right was class, and Irvine’s deft control to turn and face goal while shielding the ball from Jalil Elías was as composed as it was skilful. But between those two moments, Boyle attempted to flick a pass with the outside of his boot and instead ricocheted it off several bodies before it landed with Irvine, who, just as he did when Gurpreet Singh Sandhu spilled a cross to him against India, converted.
Perhaps the biggest difference between the two fixtures was that whereas Australia was able to kick on and grab a second earlier in the week, this time they became much more reserved with their lead, and Syria were much more aggressive in pursuing an equaliser. After finishing the first half strongly and putting some level of fear in their foes with their speed, the Syrians pushed hard for a leveller as time whittled away; hearts placed in Australian mouths in the 68th minute when Mat Ryan almost spilled a long-range effort from Moayad Al Ajan into his net.
But Australia banked the three points and now look ahead to the next game, against Uzbekistan on Tuesday, for another opportunity to improve (Syria will face India, needing a win).
