Australia person slipped to 3rd successful their radical for FIFA World Cup qualifying, aft a 1-1 gully against China that was punctuated by a arguable VAR decision.
With wins to some of their biggest rivals for nonstop qualification overnight, a run that started with a cleanable 9 points from 9 present abruptly looks precarious.
After taking conscionable 2 points successful their past 3 matches, Graham Arnold's men present beryllium 3rd connected 11 points, down some Saudi Arabia (16) and Japan (12).
The Socceroos needed to impressment after a dour outing against the Saudis successful Sydney past week, successful what was their archetypal location crippled successful astir 2 years. Instead, it was different frustrating performance.
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Mitch Duke opened the scoring 8 minutes earlier the break, popping up astatine the adjacent station to motion successful a slug transverse from Martin Boyle.
But with conscionable implicit 20 minutes to spell and aft a lengthy VAR check, the referee pointed to spot aft James Jeggo was judged to person handballed successful the box.
Wu Lei converted the ensuing spot kick, and nary precocious scrambling was capable for Australia.
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Now they indispensable hold until adjacent twelvemonth to resume the last fewer matches of the campaign, with a brace of perfectly captious fixtures against Vietnam and Oman connected January 27 and February 1.
If the Socceroos person immoderate hopes of nonstop qualification, wins successful some of those games are a indispensable - earlier they adjacent retired the radical signifier successful March with 2 crunch games against Japan and Saudi Arabia.
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