Tuesday 10 October 2017 15:44, UK
Tim Cahill scored twice, including an extra-time winner, as Australia kept their World Cup hopes alive with a nervy 2-1 victory over Syria on Tuesday.
The 3-2 aggregate victory sends the Socceroos into an intercontinental play-off in November against the fourth-placed team in North and Central America and Caribbean (CONCACAF), with a World Cup spot on the line.
Cahill, 37, scored Australia's opener with a trademark header in the 13th minute but it was not until 96 minutes later, with Syria down to 10 men, that he kept his country on course for a fourth successive appearance at the World Cup finals with his 50th international goal.
Syria, gripped by civil war for six years and missing several key players, made the perfect start in Sydney when Omar Al Somah scored in the sixth minute to cancel out Australia's away-goal advantage from the 1-1 first-leg draw.
However, that was the one bright spot for Syria in a half of almost total domination by the hosts, who enjoyed 80 per cent of the possession.
The introduction of Huddersfield midfielder Aaron Mooy, surprisingly left out of the team, after just 11 minutes because of an injury to Bournemouth defender Brad Smith prompted a change in formation and led to almost one-way traffic.
Matthew Leckie, whose inviting right-wing cross was converted by Cahill for the equaliser, saw a close-range effort on the half-hour blocked by Zaher Medane as Syria's defence held on.
Early in the second half, Leckie powered a header wide before Ibrahim Alma saved well at his left-hand post to deny Celtic midfielder Tom Rogic, whose deflected shot wide in the 90th minute was their last chance before extra-time.
Syria continued to hang on - although their task was made more difficult by the dismissal of Mahmoud Al Mawas for a second yellow card - and Alma brilliantly tipped over Nikita Rukavytsya's near-post volley at the end of the first period.
But despite getting his hand to the ball, the goalkeeper could not keep out Cahill's second header in the 109th minute.
There was still time for one dramatic twist when Al Soma lined up a 30-yard free-kick in added time but his shot crashed against the post with the goalkeeper beaten.
