The Socceroos' long-awaited homecoming has been marred by a superior genu wounded to prima defender Harry Souttar successful a drawn World Cup qualifier against Saudi Arabia.
Despite a flurry of chances for some teams, the goalkeepers astatine either extremity stood beardown arsenic Australia's archetypal location lucifer successful 763 days ended 0-0 successful Parramatta.
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The Scottish-born Souttar, who has scored six goals successful Australian colours since switching allegiances successful 2019, crumpled down successful a heap wrong Saudi Arabia's container precocious successful the lucifer aft planting his limb awkwardly earlier being stretchered off.
Souttar's wounded could not travel astatine a worse time, with the 23-year-old wide linked to an English Premier League determination aft a beardown mates of seasons for Championship broadside Stoke City.
Following his side's frustrating draw, Socceroos manager Graham Arnold expressed his disappointment astatine the wounded to Souttar.
"It's precise serious," helium told reporters.
"At this infinitesimal I'm truly down and devastated for Harry. I judge he's the champion centre-back successful Asia and if it turns retired to beryllium a atrocious wounded it's a stroke for Harry and a large stroke for us."
While the scoreline suggested a lifeless contest, it was thing but, arsenic players connected some sides came look to look successful a fig of fiery clashes passim the match.
In the end, Australia had to beryllium grateful for Mat Ryan who ripped disconnected a trio of saves successful the 2nd fractional to support the tourists from snatching a maiden triumph connected Australian soil.
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Australia was near frustrated by what seemed to beryllium galore occasions of time-wasting from the tourists, and Arnold said his broadside had to woody with specified tactics successful amended fashion.
"Overall we played well. We created the chances but they didn't spell successful tonight," helium said.
"A small spot of vexation acceptable successful with the time-wasting and the tactics from the Saudis, but we've got to larn to beryllium amended with that due to the fact that I deliberation that was erstwhile they got a mates of their chances."
The effect means that Saudi Arabia retains its apical spot successful Group B of the World Cup qualifiers, with Australia presently successful 2nd place.
Arnold's broadside volition person a accidental to get backmost connected the winners' database erstwhile it takes connected China adjacent Wednesday greeting astatine 2:00am AEDT successful Sharjah.
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