Match ends, Syria 1, Australia 1.
SyriaSyria1AustraliaAustralia1
Omar Al Somah scored a late penalty as Syria kept their 2018 World Cup hopes alive with a draw in the first leg of their play-off against Australia.
In their previous match, striker Al Somah netted an injury-time equaliser against Iran as Syria finished third in their Asian qualifying group.
He also converted the leveller in Malaysia - where Syria play their home games - after Robbie Kruse's opener.
The return leg takes place in Sydney next Tuesday (kick-off 10:00 BST).
Tomi Juric twice hit the post for the visitors, while Mouaiad Al Ajjan could have won it for Syria in injury time, but his strike was brilliantly kept out by Brighton goalkeeper Mathew Ryan.
Huddersfield midfielder Aaron Mooy started for the Socceroos, while QPR's Massimo Luongo and Celtic's Tom Rogic came on as second-half substitutes.
The winner of the tie will go on to face a Concacaf side in another two-legged match next month for a place at the World Cup.
Line-ups
Syria
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Almeh
- 21Youssef
- 2Al MasriBooked at 87mins
- 18Al Medani
- 3Ajjan
- 8Al MaowasSubstituted forAl Khatibat 76'minutes
- 20Al MbayedBooked at 13mins
- 14Haj Mohamad
- 13KalfaSubstituted forAl Jafalat 45'minutes
- 9Al Soma
- 7KhribinBooked at 78minsSubstituted forMardikianat 80'minutes
Substitutes
- 4Al Baour
- 5Somi
- 6Jenyat
- 10Al Khatib
- 11Al Jafal
- 12Hamwiah
- 15Al Shbli
- 16Mido
- 17Omari
- 19Mardikian
- 22Al-Youssef
- 23Madanieh
Australia
Formation 3-2-4-1
- 1Ryan
- 20Sainsbury
- 2DegenekBooked at 51mins
- 6Jurman
- 7LeckieBooked at 80mins
- 10KruseSubstituted forLuongoat 69'minutes
- 5MilliganBooked at 45mins
- 13Mooy
- 16Behich
- 19RisdonBooked at 36minsSubstituted forRukavytsyaat 63'minutes
- 9JuricSubstituted forRogicat 83'minutes
Substitutes
- 3B Smith
- 4Cahill
- 11Goodwin
- 12Langerak
- 14Troisi
- 15Amini
- 17Rukavytsya
- 18Vukovic
- 21Luongo
- 22Irvine
- 23Rogic
- Referee:
- Alireza Faghani
- Attendance:
- 42,000
Match Stats
Home TeamSyriaAway TeamAustralia
- Possession
- Home34%
- Away66%
- Shots
- Home16
- Away14
- Shots on Target
- Home4
- Away5
- Corners
- Home9
- Away4
- Fouls
- Home15
- Away17
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Syria 1, Australia 1.
Post update
Offside, Syria. Oday Al Jafal tries a through ball, but Omar Al Soma is caught offside.
Post update
Aziz Behich (Australia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Firas Al Khatib (Syria).
Post update
Attempt missed. Firas Al Khatib (Syria) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Oday Al Jafal.
Post update
Foul by Tomas Rogic (Australia).
Post update
Mardik Mardikian (Syria) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Offside, Syria. Fahd Youssef tries a through ball, but Mardik Mardikian is caught offside.
Post update
Corner, Syria. Conceded by Mat Ryan.
Post update
Attempt saved. Mouaiad Al Ajjan (Syria) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by Firas Al Khatib.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Oday Al Jafal (Syria) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Post update
Mark Milligan (Australia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Mardik Mardikian (Syria).
Post update
Offside, Australia. Tomas Rogic tries a through ball, but Nikita Rukavytsya is caught offside.
Post update
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Post update
Delay in match Ibrahim Almeh (Syria) because of an injury.
Post update
Attempt saved. Trent Sainsbury (Australia) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Aaron Mooy with a cross.
Booking
Hadi Al Masri (Syria) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Massimo Luongo (Australia) wins a free kick on the right wing.
