Adelaide: Second meets third in Group B of the FIFA World Cup Russia 2018 qualifiers at Adelaide Oval on Thursday as hosts Australia seek a victory over Saudi Arabia that would move them level on points with their opponents and firmly back into contention for an automatic place at next year’s competition.
Goals from Jackson Irvine and Mathew Leckie secured a 2-0 win over the United Arab Emirates in March as Australia brought a run of four successive draws – which started with a 2-2 stalemate in Jeddah last October – to an end after losing ground on the Saudis and Group B leaders Japan.
The visitors, meanwhile, are behind Japan on goal difference alone having won their last two qualifying games against Thailand and Iraq, and know that a win in Australia would move them six points clear of the Socceroos.
Fresh from achieving promotion to England’s Premier League with Huddersfield Town, midfielder Aaron Mooy returns from suspension for Australia, but both the hosts’ Mark Milligan and Saudi Arabia’s Nawaf Al Abed are serving one-game bans after picking up bookings in the last round of fixtures.
Photo: Lagardère Sports
Source: the-afc.com