SYDNEY – Veteran striker Tim Cahill scored deep into extra time to take Australia a big step closer to next year’s World Cup and end war-torn Syria’s fairytale run in the playoffs on Tuesday.
Cahill, 37, cancelled out Omar al-Soma’s opener in the first half before he leapt to head Australia’s precious second goal in the 109th minute for a 2-1 win in the second leg.
After last week’s 1-1 draw in Malaysia, Australia won 3-2 on aggregate to reach a final playoff against the fourth-placed team from the Concacaf federation, currently Panama.
Syria have never reached the World Cup, and their hopes suffered a massive blow when Mahmoud al-Mawas was sent off for a second bookable offence in the fourth minute of extra time.
As penalties beckoned, Robbie Kruse sent over a cross from the byline, and Cahill outjumped his marker to power a header past the diving Ibrahim Alma.
There was huge drama in the dying seconds, when Soma shook the right post with a vicious free kick.
But Australia survived to stay on track for their fourth straight World Cup.