Attack after attack for the home side now with Troisi forcing a good save out of Sinthaweechai who has had a mountain of work to do tonight with Australia close to having 30 shots on goal.
86'
M. Leckie has scored a goal for Australia!
Goal Mathew Leckie
Kruse can't keep a ball in but he did get the ball back into the middle for Juric who missed his header but it was for nothing. Socceroos still needing to attack to boost their goal difference
85'
GOAL! AUSTRALIA 2 THAILAND 1. The Socceroos respond straight away as Mooy's corner is punched away from goal straight to Leckie and his shot deflects off a couple of Thailand defenders legs and goes into the back of the net
82'
P. A-nan has scored a goal for Thailand! Assist by P. Notechaiya.
Assist Peerapat Notchaiya
Goal Pokkhao Anan
81'
GOAL! THAILAND 1 AUSTRALIA 1. Thailand have used one of their counterattacks to good effect here as they equalise through Anan as his shot goes into the back of the net off the crossbar. Massive blow to the Socceroos.
79'
N. Sriyankem enters the game and replaces C. Songkrasin.
Somehow the ball stays out of the back of the net after it pinballs around the area and Thailand are just good enough to clear it away from danger for the moment
Rogic has had so many chances tonight and he misses another here as he hits the ball on the half volley and it flies just too high over the crossbar
74'
Mooy's corners have been very good tonight and he finds Juric who has his header cleared off the goal line. Still only the 1 for the home side.
73'
S. Chatthong enters the game and replaces S. Dechmitr.
Substitution Sanrawat Dechmitr Siroch Chatthong
Australia pushing for more goals with Maclaren coming on. Socceroos need a 3 goal margin to put the pressure on Saudi Arabia to beat Japan later on tonight. Juric is denied this time as his shot bound for the bottom corner is turned around for the corner
Minute
Description
71'
J. Maclaren enters the game and replaces B. Wright.
Substitution Bailey Wright Jamie MacLaren
70'
It took the Socceroos 25 shots to find the back of the net and the 26th shot goes well wide as Milligan tried a shot from outside the box after being urged to shoot by the capacity crowd
69'
T. Jurić has scored a goal for Australia! Assist by A. Mooy.
Assist Aaron Mooy
Goal Tomi Jurić
GOAL! AUSTRALIA 1 THAILAND 0. Finally. The Socceroos are on the scoresheet and they were definitely due to get one in the back of the net as Mooy floats in a great cross to Juric who heads the ball home and puts his side in the lead.
68'
It is not the Socceroos night tonight as yet another chance goes begging with Juric smashing his shot from close range over the crossbar
67'
J. Troisi enters the game and replaces A. Gersbach.
Substitution Alex Gersbach James Troisi
Australia have hit the woodwork three times now as a corner falls to Rogic as he controls the ball well, turns and his shot smacks off the post.
64'
Mooy has a shot from outside the area that a Thailand defender gets in the way of yet again. The Thailand defence has been very good tonight after being under so much pressure for the majority of this game
62'
Australia have not had their finishing boots on tonight as they create chance after chance with no end result as of yet.
59'
More good penetration from the Socceroos with Leckie through and the cross is cleared away for the corner. The corner falls to Gersbach who has his shot blocked. Australia still in possession
57'
R. Kruse enters the game and replaces T. Cahill.
Substitution Tim Cahill Robbie Kruse
Kruse has an immediate impact getting into the box but his touch is too heavy. Australia again get into the area and Rogic has a shot which goes straight at the goalkeeper. Australia have had 20 shots in this game and nothing yet to show for it
55'
Putting in crosses is a good option for the Socceroos with a size advantage on their opponents. Juric this time doesn't have another power on the header and Sinthaweechai can claim it
52'
The goal will n ot come for the Australian side as good passing around the edge of the area sees Rogic flicks it back to Mooy who rushes a shot and it flies well wide of the far post.
49'
Mooy whips in a good cross to the back post which the Thailand defence have to deal with and they put it behind for a corner. The corner is headed away and Gersbach puts in another cross to the back post which Cahill almost gets a head to but it is claimed by the goalkeeper
47'
Rogic now has a shot palmed away by the goalkeeper and another shot from outside the area which goes high and wide. Frenetic start to this 2nd half
46'
Back underway
Massive moment for the Thailand side who are away and Dangda is taken in a challenge from behind by Sainsbury but lucky for the defender he gets enough of the ball and the referee doesn't point to the spot
44'
Ryan has come out of his goal to deny a goal scoring opportunity for the Thailand side and he is very lucky to not get a yellow card
42'
Thailand are frustrating the Socceroos as they have been defending very well and Leckie again who has been a positive outlet for the home side has his cross into the middle blocked
39'
The goal will not come for Australia as Leckie floats in a great cross for Juric who chests it down and smashes his shot wide of the goal. Now the corner falls to Rogic who has his shot blocked
38'
B. Wright gets yellow.
Yellow card Bailey Wright
Wright gives away a foul on the edge of the area on a good angle to swing a cross in from the set piece. Good chance for Thailand. Do has a shot from the free kick which goes just wide of the target
37'
The free kick comes to nothing as it is wasted by Juric who blasts it well over the top of the crossbar.
35'
A free kick has gone the way of the Socceroos as Sinthaweechai has run outside of his box with the ball in his hands and it is an indirect free kick just a metre out of the box
34'
Australia have been a bit too slow in transition and that has allowed the Thailand side to get back in numbers and block the passes the Socceroos are trying to make
32'
Australia get another corner with Gersbach playing well out on the left. The corner again goes just wide as it deflects off Wright's shoulder and out for a goal kick. No luck has gone the way of the home side so far
29'
Another well worked move from the home side as Mooy puts a pass into the box for Leckie who slides a pass across goal to Cahill but the ball is cleared just in time
27'
Mooy's effort is just over the bar from the free kick from 20 yards out. Australia dominating in all areas but are yet to find the breakthrough.
26'
Still the Socceroos are unable to find the net as another good corner is swung in by Mooy and Milligan has his shot cleared off the line. Rogic now earns a free kick in a good area.
23'
P. Notechaiya gets yellow.
Yellow card Peerapat Notchaiya
22'
Another chance is wasted by the Australian side as Gersbach puts an overhead kick into the box which Wright also kicks it over his head and the ball falls to Cahill who slices his shot high and wide. Frustration quickly setting in for the home side
20'
Thailand are trying to utilise the counter attack and they are trying to catch the Socceroos defence out in transition. Rogic now has another shot which goes high and wide.
17'
How so close for the Socceroos. They've hit the post for a second time as Cahill unleashes a shot and Leckie's follow up cross flashes across the face of goal and doesn't get a touch. Now Mooy forces a very good save out of Sinthaweechai. Australia are pushing for that opening goal but it is yet to come.
15'
Gersbach puts in a good cross from the left which the goalkeeper punches away but it goes straight to Milligan who drives in a shot from 20 yards out but it goes well wide of the target
13'
Great lead up from the Socceroos as Mooy gives a pass to Rogic who takes a shot from outside the box which the goalkeeper fumbles but is then scrambled away by the Thailand defence. The goal is seemingly coming for the home side.
10'
Dangda has the first shot of the game for the away side that has plenty of power but it flies wide of the post. That is the danger for the Socceroos, Thailand are very good on the counter attack
9'
Thailand have weathered the early storm and looked to have settle as they have a decent spell of possession but they are yet to create any chances so far
6'
Leckie has had a superb start to this game as he goes down the right hand side again with no defender near him and he has time to stop and look for a pass and he gives it to Mooy who hits the outside of the box. Almost the early goal for the Socceroos that they crave to settle their nerves
5'
The corner is a good one from Mooy which Bailey heads back across goal at the back post but the Thailand side can clear it away. They are under plenty of pressure already having very little of the ball in the first five minutes
4'
Rogic gets away from two defenders and passes to Juric who goes down in the area, now Mooy also has gone down in the area but the referee waves play on. Positive start from the home side getting on the front foot early.
2'
Australia have the first chance of the game as Leckie gets down the right past his marker and puts a good cross into the area for Juric who puts his shot just wide of the near post
1'
We're underway
Welcome to Melbourne where the Socceroos host a vital World Cup Qualifier against Thailand. The equation is simple for the Socceroos, win this game by at least 3 goals and hope that Japan can beat Saudi Arabia later tomorrow morning and Australia are off to the World Cup in Russia next year. Australia have to attack tonight and they will be liking their chances against a team bottom of the group but Thailand pose a threat in attack themselves and it won't be straight forward for Australia. The home side will have to hold their nerve and come up with a big win to give them the chance to go straight through to the World Cup. Kick off next.
HALF TIME: AUSTRALIA 0 THAILAND 0. A frustrating first half for the Socceroos comes to an end with the scores level. Australia have dominated every facet of this game but have not been able to trouble the scorers. They have had plenty of chances but none have been taken. Thailand have defended very well and are right in this game. The Thailand counterattack is dangerous and something the Socceroos have to look out for. Big 2nd half coming up.
FULL TIME: AUSTRALIA 2 THAILAND 1. A frustrating night for the Socceroos who do get the win by 2 goals to 1 but they needed to win by at least 3 tonight to put the pressure on Saudi Arabia. Australia dominated the whole game with 70% possession and almost 30 shots but they were only able to put 2 goals on the board. They may not have done enough as Saudi Arabia with a win over Japan later will go into 2nd spot and relegate Australia to 3rd spot where they must go into a play-off. Australia with an unsatisfactory win tonight but they got the 3 points and must wait now to find out their fate.
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