Australia Draw With Kuwait

January 8, 2010

Australia drew 2-2 with Kuwait in the latest qualifying game for the 2011 Asian Cup. A win would have been good but a draw is a good result.

The first half was game of two halves. Before the game was even five minutes old, Australia already had a 2-0 lead. Luke Wilkshire scored the first after two minutes before Dean Heffernan doubled the lead two minutes later.
It looked like Australia were about to have their third straight win in qualifying but Kuwait fought back. They then scored twice in the last four minutes of the half. First Fayez Bandar converted a chance and then Yousif Naser ensured that both side would head to the break on level terms.

Both teams are now level on eight points and as long as Oman don’t win their final game against Kuwait both will qualify. With Indonesia out of the picture, Australia will face a side who has nothing to play for. They will qualify with a draw and will get through with a loss as long as Oman don’t win.

What will Pim Verbeek think now of the A-Leaguers? They could only manage two points from three games so far. The last game against Indonesia is on a FIFA Match Date so all players will be available – it will be just a manner of getting to Brisbane and back.

The A-Leaguers will be fighting for spots in the World Cup squad. Who can say with any certainty that they have won their way into contention for South Africa?

Soccer betting has the Socceroos as certainties to qualify for the tournament. Elsewhere Japan and Bahrain have qualified - no surprise there. From Group C. Uzbekistan and United Arab Emirates have made it. Syria and China will represent Group D leaving Group E up for grabs. Iran have made it but all of Thailand, Singapore and Jordan could make it. Will be an interesting final round.

On the one hand, Verbeek will be miffed that qualifying hasn’t yet been achieved but on the other hand, sometimes it is good when things don’t come so easily. Will make them less complacent in the tournament proper.

David Wiseman writes about the Socceroos. He also writes about the Australian Open.

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