Football
2022 World Cup Qualifying - AFC, Round Three
AUS 
3
FT
 OMA
1
AAP 2y

Australia beat Oman to continue winning run in World Cup qualifying

The Socceroos remain in prime position to qualify for Qatar 2022, prevailing 3-1 over Oman to stretch their winning streak to a record 11 consecutive World Cup qualifiers in the same campaign.

Awer Mabil powered Australia in front after just nine minutes in Doha, with Oman's Al Mandhar Al Alawi responding in the 28th, before Martin Boyle's 49th-minute header and Mitch Duke's 89th-minute finish sealed three points.

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The victory keeps Australia top of group B, ahead of Saudi Arabia on goal difference and a full six points clear of Japan, who they face in Saitama on Tuesday night.

The Socceroos also became the first team to register 11 straight wins in a single World Cup qualifying campaign, eclipsing the 10 consecutive victories enjoyed by Germany (2018), Spain (2010) and Mexico (2006).

Australia got their foot on the ball early in Doha and made it count when Jackson Irvine's testing ball into the area was cleared into the path of Mabil, who lashed home But less than a minute later, Mat Ryan had to make a terrific lunging save to stop an immediate equaliser from Zahir Al Aghbari on the counter.

From there, Oman arguably took control of the first half and the seemingly inevitable equaliser arrived in the 28th minute.

The Socceroos were unable to clear the ball and Oman's Khalid Al-Hajri showed some good hold-up play before feeding Al Mandhar Al Alawi, who whipped an unbeatable shot into the top corner.

It ended Australia's run of clean sheets in four games.

Oman lost the influential Al Aghbari to a shoulder injury in the 31st minute and four minutes into the second half, Australia regained the lead.

Tom Rogic drove forward and delivered a brilliant cutback to Adam Taggart, who smacked a shot straight at Faiyz Al Rusheidi.

But when the keeper spilled the effort, an alert Boyle threw himself at the ball to head home from close range.

Boyle was unlucky not to receive a penalty when he was shoved in the back in the 56th.

The game remained tense with the points still in the balance until substitutes Chris Ikonomidis, Fran Karacic and Duke combined with aplomb to seal the victory in the 86th minute.

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