AL AIN: Australia are through to the knockout rounds at the Asian Cup, although the defending champion haven’t made it look pretty.

Australia needed a stoppage-time goal from Tom Rogic to beat Syria 3-2 on Tuesday after twice letting leads slip. A draw would have been enough to finish runners-up in Group ‘B’ behind Jordan who beat Australia 1-0 in their opening game and the title holders were below their best in eliminating a resolute Syrian team, who finished last in the group.

“Tommy is key to what we do with the ball,” said Australia coach Graham Arnold. “A lot of time we don’t find him when he’s free, but when you get him free and free him up he can do anything. He’s a wonderful player and a joy to coach.”

Palestine’s 0-0 draw with Jordan in Abu Dhabi means they can still reach the round-of-16 as one of the four best third-place teams in the new 24-team format.

The Palestinians have two points and will go through if enough low-ranked teams in other groups draw their games.

Australia will play the Group ‘F’ runners-up; 2011 champions Japan or Uzbekistan next Monday in the first knockout round. Jordan top the group with seven points, and next play a third-placed team Bahrain, Vietnam or Yemen.

If Australia’s overall play was unconvincing for a team that tested eventual champions France in a 2018 World Cup group game, two of their goals were impressive.

Awer Mabil opened the scoring in the 41st minute with a curling left-foot shot from just outside the penalty area. Rogic decided the game with a powerful left-foot shot from the same distance.

In between, Chris Ikonomidi’s poked shot past Syrian goalkeeper Ibrahim Alma was judged to have crossed the line before Omro Al Midani’s attempted clearance. Without goal-line technology, or video review before the quarter-final stage, the assistant at the touchline and fifth official beside the goal helped make the decision.

Syria first levelled though Omar Khrbin in the 43rd, and then Omar Al Soma’s 80th-minute penalty kick after he fell to the ground as a cross was swung in from the right flank.

Twice quarter-finalists, in 2004 and 2011, Jordan stunned holders Australia in their opening game before beating Syria 2-0. But they found plucky Palestine a tougher nut to crack in Abu Dhabi.

Abdallatif Al Bahdari’s header gave Jordan a scare on the hour-mark of a match that was not one for football purists.

Jordan went close when Ahmad Ersan’s long-range blast was blocked by Palestine goalkeeper Rami Hamada before the game petered out with both sides content to take a draw.

Published in Dawn, January 17th, 2019