Match Report
The Subway Socceroos edged out Palestine 1-0 in Kuwait City on Wednesday morning to keep their perfect World Cup qualifying campaign intact.
Harry Souttar scored the winner midway through the first period with another towering header for Australia in a tough battle for Graham Arnold’s men.
Australia were put under pressure early, struggling to get into their flow with Palestine going close six minutes in. Tamer Seyam’s free-kick from the right corner of the box needing to be batted away at the near post by Mathew Ryan.
The Socceroos had a chance of their own five minutes later when Connor Metcalfe lined up from range, but the ball bounced into Rami Hamada’s gloves.
The side put their tricky start behind them, opening the scoring in the 18th minute with the same combination as a few days ago against Bangladesh in Melbourne.
Craig Goodwin’s inswinging corner from the right met Souttar close in, the defender directing his header past Hamada for his 10th goal in Australian colours.
Australia built up well from the back, half an hour in and nearly added a second. Goodwin’s curling left-sided cross found Metcalfe at the far post, but his volley was straight at Hamada.
They nearly gave up their lead just before the break when a right-sided corner dropped to Seyam at the near post, but Ryan pulled off a brilliant, brave save to prevent the equaliser.
A moment from a set piece proved to be the difference in the first half as the Socceroos went into halftime with a narrow lead in Kuwait.
