Live Action: Australia v Saudi Arabia (2026 World Cup Qualifiers)
Leaders-Mena magazine provided a live coverage of Thursday’s game between Australia and Saudi Arabia in the in the fifth round of the Asian 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
Fulltime: Australia 0-0 Saudi Arabia
Yellow cards:
Ahmed Al-Kassar, Ali Al-Bulayhi (Saudi Arabia)
Riley McGree, Jason Geria (Australia)
90+8′ Second half ends.
90+7′ Riley McGree’s left-footed shot from the centre of the box goes wide.
90+5′ VAR Check.. Goal overturned due to offside.
90+3′ GOAAAAL… Saudi Arabia take the lead.
90+1′ Substitution for Australia: Kusini Yengi replaces Aiden O’Neill
90′ The fourth official signals 5 minutes of added time.
88′ Double subs for Saudi Arabia: Awn Al Saluli replaces Marwan Al-Sahafi, Sultan Al-Ghannam comes in for Faisal Al-Ghamdi
87′ Throw in for Australia in their own half.
85′ Goal kick for Australia.
84′ Borrello runs with a fast break through the middle as he takes the ball into the box, sending a cross to McGree and he fluffs his lines at the final moment. Borello could have gone for goal himself.
83′ Substitution for Australia: Aziz Behich comes in for Jordan Bos.
82′ Throw in for Australia.
78′ Free kick for Saudi Arabia in their own half.
75’ With 15 minutes remaining, the game is still tied, with Saudi Arabia dominating possession at 58%.
74′ Double subs for Australia: Anthony Cáceres replaces Nishan Velupillay; Brandon Borrello comes in for Mitchell Duke
71′ Throw in for Saudi Arabia in Australia’s half.
70′ Throw in for Australia.
68′ Hassan Tambakti wins a free kick in the defensive half.
67′ Throw in for Saudi Arabia in Australia’s half.
65′ Australia’s Riley McGree receives a yellow card.
64′ A throw in for Australia in Saudi Arabia’s half.
63′ Al-Bulayhi receives a yellow card for a bad foul
60′ At the hour mark, the game remains tied, but Saudi Arabia continue to dominate with 63% possession.
57′ Double subs for Saudi Arabia: Abdullah Al-Khaibari replaces Musab Al-Juwayer; Abdullah Al-Hamdan comes in for Saleh Al-Shehri.
55′ The Green Falcons awarded a free kick following a hand ball.
54′ Al-Buraikan is ruled offside.
53′ Throw in for Australia.
52′ Australia’s Nishan Velupillay is caught offside.
50′ Saudi Arabia have picked up where they left off in the first half, with the ball occupying their attacking half once again.
48′ Throw-in for Saudi Arabia in the half of Australia.
47′ Throw in for Australia.
46′ Second half begins
46′ Substitution for Australia: Nishan Velupillay replaces Ajdin Hrustic
Halftime
Australia had 39.8% of the possession for the first half, with 74.6% passing accuracy, having 7 shots on goal with 1 on target. Saudi Arabia finished the first half with 60.2% of the ball, having had 85.4% passing accuracy with 2 shots on goal and 1 on target.
45+7′ First half ends.
45+4′ WHAT A SAVE! Australia goalkeeper Gauci makes a brilliant save to deny Saudi Arabia from scoring.
45+4′ Saudi Arabia awarded a free kick in their own half.
45+3′ Goal kick for Australia.
45′ The fourth official signals 6 minutes of added time.
45′ Ajdin Hrustic meets Mitch Duke’s cross with a left-footed strike from outside the box, but the keeper makes a brilliant save in the bottom left corner.
44′ Free kick for Saudi Arabia on the right side of Australia’s half
41′ Throw in for Saudi Arabia in their own half.
40′ Goal kick for the Green Falcons.
39′ Australia awarded a free kick on the right side of Saudi Arabia’s half.
37′ Saleh Al-Shehri wins a free kick in the defensive half.
36′ A Throw in for Australia in Saudi Arabia’s half.
32′ Corner kick for Australia.
30′ At the half-hour mark, the Green Falcons dominate with 74% possession, but the game remains tied.
28′ Saudi Arabia came into the game as under dogs, with the players they were missing, however, they have shown like they are the better of the two teams so far.
27′ Al Dawsari’s left-footed strike from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
24′ Saleh Al-Shehri is ruled offside
24′ The game looks too tight to call at the moment, with both teams exchanging blows around the field.
22′ Australia awarded a throw-in in their own half.
20′ Australia win a free kick in their own half.
18′ Harry Souttar’s right-footed shot from the centre of the box is just a bit too high following a set piece situation.
16′ Goalkeeper Ahmed Al-Kassar receives a yellow card for a bad foul
15′ Australia awarded a free kick instead of a penalty.
14′ VAR check.. Penalty overturned.
13′ Australia awarded a penalty kick.
11′ A Throw in for Australia on the right side of Saudi’s half.
9′ Saudi Arabia are controlling the ball in their own half.
7′ Australia win a free kick in on the right wing.
5′ Firas Al-Buraikan is caught offside.
4′ A corner kick for Saudi Arabia
3′ The Green Faclons are relying on their solid defence, while deploying counterattack.
1′ Australia’s Lewis Miller wins a free kick on the right wing.
0′ First half begins.
Lineups:
Australia: Joe Gauci; Jason Geria, Harry Souttar, Cameron Burgess; Lewis Miller, Jordan Bos (Aziz Behich 82), Jackson Irvine, Aiden O’Neill; [Ajdin Hrustić (Nishan Velupillay 46) Anthony Cáceres 74], Riley McGree; Mitchell Duke
Saudi Arabia: Ahmed Al-Kassar; Saud Abdulhamid, Hassan Tambakti, Ali Al-Bulayhi, Yasser Al-Shahrani – Nasser Al-Dawsari, Musab Al-Juwayr (Abdullah Al-Khaibari 57), Faisal Al-Ghamdi; Marwan Al-Sahafi (Abdullah Al-Hamdan 57), Firas Al-Buraikan, Saleh Al-Shehri
خيارات مدربنا ” @Herve_Renard_HR ” لمواجهة منتخب أستراليا 📝⬇. #السعودية_أستراليا pic.twitter.com/WBwsJkFppy
— المنتخب السعودي (@SaudiNT) November 14, 2024
10:30 Saudi Arabia have faced Australia 10 times across all competitions, with the Socceroos winning five matches, the Green Falcons securing two victories, and three games ending in draws.
10:00 Saudi Arabia will go head-to-head against Australia in a crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier.
Venue: Melbourne Rectangular Stadium
Referee: Adel Al-Naqbi (UAE)
Check the match preview HERE
Check out a tactical blueprint for Saudi Arabia to overcome Australia HERE
