Socceroos’ good, bad and baffling from Saudi Arabia draw … and the concerning trend that remains

Was it a good point? Did Australia deserve to lose? Was Saudi Arabia hard done by? What is the meaning of life?

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Some questions are easily answered. Others, like what on earth to make of the Socceroos wild World Cup qualifier in Melbourne on Thursday night, are somewhat harder.

Fans were treated to the good, bad and the baffling from Tony Popovic’s side in one almighty puzzle of a performance that has, once again, ensured this third phase will continue to be a rollercoaster right until the final fixture.

If not for a line-ball VAR call that went against Saudi Arabia in the 93rd minute, it could’ve been far worse for the Aussies as well.

That technology, often criticised, doesn’t look so bad right now.

Even Popovic didn’t know which way the decision was going to swing after a display from his side he described as “average” and “okay” in parts, and “good” in others.

It was that type of night.

THE FIRST THIRTY MINUTES

The Socceroos need to find a solution to the way they perform in the first half-hour of the first fixture of an international window.

After 10 minutes the stat sheet didn’t make for pretty reading.

Australia had just 26% of possession and their pass accuracy was sitting at a worrying 61%.

It was the same story on matchday three against China in Adelaide and they never really got into the game at all on matchday one against Bahrain on the Gold Coast.

Credit needs to go to Saudi Arabia for the way they pressed the Socceroos in that opening half an hour.

The Green Falcons’ energy and enthusiasm undoubtedly contributed to the Australian error rate with the ball, but the fact the Aussies regularly failed to find a teammate for such a sustained period of time was concerning.

Harry Souttar, Cameron Burgess and Jason Geria were superb once again in defense for the Socceroos, but allowing the trio to be put under so much pressure will eventually have consequences.

Popovic, who has tended to look for the silver-lining in most situations since taking over the position, didn’t even try to hide the bad amongst the good.

“It was a really difficult game; a tough match,” he said.

“They brought a lot of energy in the first half. I don’t think we coped with that very well.

“We weren’t very good with the ball and we looked a little bit heavy and lethargic in the first half.”

The Socceroos looked vastly improved after the half hour mark, but given the frantic way the game ended, the hosts would no doubt love to have made better use their time.

Saudi Arabia was there to be beaten.

WASTED CHANCES PROVE COSTLY

The Socceroos ended the game with 13 shots to Saudi Arabia’s three.

Harry Souttar blasted over from the edge of the six-yard box after Herve Renard’s side failed to clear a free-kick that was initially given as a penalty in the 18th minute.

Mitch Duke set-up Ajdin Hrustic, who couldn’t convert, after a superb bit of pressing from Aiden O’Neill forced a turnover in the 45th minute.

Jackson Irvine saw his curled effort go agonisingly close to the top-right corner just before half-time.

Huge opportunities to score fell to Brandon Borrello and Riley McGree after the interval as well.

Somehow, it finished scoreless.

The fact chances are being created is undoubtedly a positive, but a certain ruthlessness is lacking in-front of goal.

Great strikers are almost single minded when it comes to shooting. They might think about passing, but an open teammate is usually just used as a distraction for the opposition, before they ultimately try and find the back of the net themselves.

Duke and Borrello both opted to lay the ball off instead of being the one to finish the move.

Selfishness is so often a bad trait in a sporting environment. In strikers, it is a requirement.

McGree, who almost sealed the win with an audacious bicycle kick just before the final whistle, stressed the glut of chances being created amounted to a positive, but was realistic about what went begging.

“We did create the chances and we had the opportunities to score, and on another night it could’ve been two, three or four,” McGree said.

“It’s only a matter of time before they start to fall.”

Time, however, is running out.

The goals have dried up in the third round.

Australia has scored four times in five games.

Three of those came against China in Adelaide last month and the other was an own goal against Japan in the fixture that followed.

It is an area that needs to be addressed.

THE STRIKER SITUATION

Mitch Duke is often a lightning rod for criticism when it comes to the Socceroos’ scoring woes.

The 33-year-old has 12-goals to his name at international level from 45 appearances and has been a tremendous servant to the side.

His work rate and willingness to run himself into the ground in defense has seen him become the preferred option up front, for both former Australia coach Graham Arnold and now Popovic.

Duke’s ability to press opponents is a huge positive, but it’s also hurting his ability to fulfil his other role.

“I think sometimes he runs too much, in that he’s so keen to press; he could save some running by staying in position a little bit more,” Popovic said after the game.

“It’s hard to curtail that enthusiasm of his.

“He’s a worker, he gives his all and he had a chance in the second half when the ball got cut back, but the defender blocked it really well.

“I would’ve liked to have seen him score that goal for the work that he put in.”

Duke hasn’t scored in his last 12-games for Australia.

He was replaced by Borrello in the 74th minute and the Western Sydney Wanderers forward provided the same work rate, but also offered dangerous runs in behind the Saudi back four.

To level the blame for the result at Duke would be unfair.

His role as the starting striker co-incides with the Socceroos being frantic with the ball as of late. So, as a result, the service provided to him has been almost non-existent.

However, the post-game insight offered by Popovic is interesting.

Given how dangerous Borrello looked, and the undoubted quality possessed by Kusini Yengi, who came on as a late substitute as well, but not with enough time to really impact the game; it’s an area to watch and see if change is made.

ANOTHER HOME GAME WITH POINTS DROPPED

Qualifying for a World Cup through Asia is a long and difficult process.

Away games are often played in testing situations due to weather or the state of the pitch.

The latter is less of an issue in the third round, but certainly plays a part earlier in the campaign.

The ability to win home games becomes vital.

After three international windows in this phase the Socceroos have managed to do that just once.

It started with a loss to Bahrain on the Gold Coast on matchday one, before a 3-1 win over China in Adelaide and now a scoreless draw against Saudi Arabia in Melbourne.

The ultimate price of that is still to be determined.

There’s now five games left for the Socceroos to try and seal second spot in Group C and automatic qualification for the 2026 World Cup.

Just two of those fixtures will be at home.

They face Indonesia in March and should be confident of securing all three-points, but their final home game, against Japan in June, will be a far tougher assignment.

THE STATE OF PLAY IN GROUP C

So far, other results continue to fall Australia’s way.

China’s unexpected 1-nil win over Bahrain, thanks to a 91st minute winner, ensured Australia remained in second spot in the group, despite the slip-up against Saudi Arabia.

The result moves China to six points, level with Australia and Saudi Arabia, but fourth on goal difference.

Bahrain sits in second last spot in the group, on five points, ahead of the arrival of the Socceroos.

It means victory for Australia against Bahrain in Riffa on Wednesday morning (AEDT), barring a huge win by Saudi Arabia against Indonesia in Jakarta, will be enough to keep hold of second spot ahead of the second last international window in March.

Popovic is all too aware of how high the stakes, and slim the margins, are becoming.

“There’s a lot to play for, but we take the point and move forward to Bahrain,” he said.

“I think we can do a lot better and we’ve got work to do, but we were also very hard to beat.

“Overall, it’s an okay result in terms of where we want to be and we know it’s a huge game in Bahrain.”

The likelihood of a final matchday showdown for an automatic World Cup spot, away from home against Saudi Arabia, is increasing with every game.

THE PHYSICAL COST OF THE DRAW

Just two months ago, Nishan Velupillay wasn’t a vital piece of the Socceroos set-up.

Now, he’s made himself a crucial part of the qualifying equation.

The 23-year-old Melbourne Victory winger, who can also play anywhere across a front three, proved he belonged at international level once again in a dazzling 29-minute display.

After coming on at half-time for Ajdin Hrustic, who Popovic revealed was taken off for tactical reasons and not an injury concern, Velupillay produced several eye-catching forays forward with the ball.

His night ended following one such raid into the box; hurting his ankle in the process.

It has been an impressive introduction to the national team.

He scored on debut against China last month and has no shortage of confidence in his ability to make something happen out of nothing.

Craig Goodwin will return from suspension for the match against Bahrain next week, but Velupillay is quickly making himself indispensable and an increase in the level of responsibility placed on his shoulders could be imminent.