Australia 0-0 Saudi Arabia: World Cup 2026 qualifier – as it happened

Thanks for following along as a host of half-chances and near misses on both sides end with a frustrating stalement between the Socceroos and Saudi Arabia. Next up for Australia is Bahrain on the road. Catch you then, but in the meantime you can dig into the full match report from Joey Lynch in Melbourne:

Tony Popovic leaves with mixed reports – Ajdin Hrustic was not taken off at half-time due to injury, which seems surprising as he had arguably been the Socceroos biggest threat through the first half. But on the flip side, Nishan Velupillay’s ankle injury might be more serious than it first appeared. The young Victory attacker will be sent for scans.

Socceroos coach Tony Popovic is open and honest as he sums up his side’s performance.

“I think when you look at the chances, we had some good opportunities,” Popovic said. “But we have to give our opponent credit, first half we didn’t play very well. We were not very good with the ball. They looked sharp and energetic. And we struggled a little in the first half and improved significantly in the second half which was good. We had good opportunities. Unfortunately we couldn’t take them.

“I think if you look at the quality that they have, how athletic and technical their players are, it’s not really a surprise [Saudi Arabia looked to start on the front foot]. I think we took a little long to get into the game. We looked a little heavy and lethargic in the first half but I’m pleased with the response in the second.

“We didn’t play well with the ball in the first half but created two very good chances from good pressing moments. Second half we improved with the ball. So overall it’s a point. We move forward. But certainly we can improve.”

Riley McGree was very nearly the hero with a bicycle kick on practically the last play of the game.

“It’s disappointing that we couldn’t score and we came away with a draw when we wanted to take three points and win,” McGree said. “But I think we need to take the positives from the night. We did create the chances and we had the opportunities to score, and it could have been two, three, four on another night.

“It’s consistency. We need to keep making the chances and it’s only a matter of time before they start to fall.”

Harry Souttar is up next and while the centre-back is understandably pleased with the clean sheet, the lack of Socceroos goals and a cutting edge are yet again the concern.

“Obviously we had a lot of chances, myself included in the first half, I had to score. We had a number of chances,” Souttar said. “We worked on it and we know they like to play and take some risks. And then obviously a couple of chances in the second half. The last 5-10 minutes was a bit manic with the offside goal and the overhead kick. I saw it and I thought it was going in. Just one of frustration and another one to build on. Another point on the board I guess.”

Socceroos midfielder Aiden O’Neill is player of the match but concedes that his heart was in his mouth when Saudi Arabia appeared to have claimed the three points deep into stoppage time. “To be honest I was a little bit worried,” O’Neill said. “I haven’t seen it but obviously they made the right decision with VAR.”

But even the chaotic ending can’t hide the frustrations that Australia will feel after failing to take their chances. “We will look back on the game and improve on bits and pieces. The biggest thing is putting the ball in the back of the net,” O’Neill added.

Full-time: Australia 0-0 Saudi Arabia

96 mins: Riley McGree almost scores! The midfielder flies with a bicycle kick but it trickles just wide of the post.

94 mins: Saudi Arabia have the ball in the back of the net and wheel away to celebrate snatching the game at the death, but before they can reach their bench and returning coach a flag is waved for offside. Australia clear from a cross but Sultan Al Ghannam picks up the ball on the edge of the box and tries his luck. A rocket sneaks through a mass of players without taking a deflection before the last Saudi attacker standing not too far from Gauci makes a movement that has been adjudged to be offside. The closest of calls for the home side.

93 mins: Al Hamddan wins a free kick in a dangerous position as he bursts past Lewis Miller then is taken down by Jason Geria with a sliding tackle. Geria takes the yellow card.

90 mins: Cam Burgess digs a cross out from about the same spot inside the six-yard box that he scored an own goal against Japan. The Socceroos survive their biggest scare of the night but Abdullah Al Hamddan’s pace is causing all sorts of concerns since his introduction.

88 mins: Saudi Arabia bring on a pair of defenders with a valuable point now within reach. Sultan Alganham and Awn Mutlaq Alslaluli come on for Faisal Al-Ghamdi and Marwan Alsahafi.

86 mins: Another chance for Borrello as Aziz Behich, who replaced Jordy Bos a few minutes ago, reaches high to knock a volley back into the box. Borrello comes surging on to the cross but it is blocked. The tension is rising around the stands, time to see if the Socceroos can lift with it.

83 mins: The Socceroos fluff their lines again! Brandon Borrello breaks through the high line and goes streaming towards goal but as he approaches the Saudi keeper the 29-year-old lays the ball off to Riley McGree just a few metres away but under defensive pressure. The pass goes a little behind McGree and his shot is blocked. Not sure if that would’ve been called offside on review, but Australia still had to do better with their finishing.

80 mins: Both sides are running out of time to snatch the three points yet little has been created over the past 10 minutes or more.

77 mins: The 27, 491 in attendance make up the second biggest crowd to watch the Socceroos at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium.

76 mins: Australia have probably edged the second half so far but are still to find the crucial breakthrough. Lewis Miller goes down easily to pick up a clever free kick for Australia but when Abdullah Al Khaibari does similar shortly after the Socceroos are frustrated by the time it takes for the midfielder to get back to his feet. Hopefully that isn’t the first sign that the Saudis are shutting up with a point in their grasp.

73 mins: Anthony Caceres makes his Socceroos debut – unbelievably it’s his first game at any level for Australia – as Mitch Duke is subbed out. A memorable moment has been a long time coming for the 32-year-old.

71 mins: Velupillay re-enters the fray but only lasts a minute or so around before taking a seat in the middle of the pitch and waving to the bench. The Melbourne Victory attacker’s home crowd applaud as he hobbles to the sidelines as Brandon Borrello prepares to replace him.

68 mins: Nishan Velupillay makes a scything run into the box and almost finds a clear path through three Saudi defenders until losing his footing and control of the ball. There were legs flying everywhere but it wasn’t obvious that any in the Green Falcons’ white socks brought the young Socceroo down. Velupillay takes time to get to his feet while clutching at his ankle, and has to be helped from the field.

65 mins: A chance for Duke! But again it is blocked. Jordy Bos makes an explosive run down the left but sends his cross too long. As the Socceroos gather, Nishan Velupillay cuts back to Mitch Duke and the bustling striker gets the ball out from under his feet but can’t find a way around the Saudi defender. Riley McGree picks up the Socceroos’ first yellow for a late tackle in the resulting scramble.

63 mins: Ali Al-Bulayhi picks up the second yellow of the game after bringing down Aiden O’Neill picking up pace on a run through the middle of the pitch.

60 mins: Lewis Miller is brought to ground on the centre wing and looks considerably displeased. The free kick leads to a chance for Riley McGree inside the box but it’s another block. McGree is the most likely to have a pivotal impact at the moment.

57 mins: Saudi Arabia bring on fresh legs as Australia start to take a hold of the midfield. Abdullah Alhamddan and Abdullah Alkhaibary enter the contest in place of Saleh Al Shehri and Musab Aljuwayr.

54 mins: The Saudis look to go over the top with a pair of chip kicks but the long leg of Harry Souttar clears the first with the outside of his right boot and the second attempt only just dribbles out for a goal kick. That might just be a warning of what’s to come from the Green Falcons.

51 mins: The Socceroos are using their left side more in the early moments of the second half, as Jordy Bos has room to run into space but mis-fires with the cross. The young left-winger has impressed as a threat in his more recent opportunities with the national team but has been less of a weapon so far tonight.

48 mins: Australia start the second half more brightly than they did the first and Riley McGree has time to open up on a shot from narrowly inside the penalty box but once again it is blocked.

45 mins: Saudi Arabia kick off to begin the second half. The Green Falcons line up as they started the evening.

We’re about to get back under way with Ajdin Hrustic replaced by Nishan Velupillay for the home side. The luckless Socceroo grabbed at his upper leg when brought down right on the cusp of half-time.

Saudi Arabia enjoyed the bulk of possession through the opening 45 minutes, 60-40%, but the Socceroos created more opportunities with 6 (1 on target) to 2 (1) shots.

Half-time: Australia 0-0 Saudi Arabia