Scoreline
Syria 1-1 Australia
Syria Al Somah 85'
Australia Kruse 40'
Syria kept alive their improbable bid to make a first World Cup by holding Australia to a 1-1 draw on Thursday in the first leg of their continental play-off.
The West Asians, playing their “home” qualifiers at a neutral venue given the civil war in their country, snatched a draw five minutes from time at the Hang Jebat Stadium in Malaysia through Omar Al Somah’s contentious penalty. Robbie Kruse had earlier given Australia, the reigning Asian champions, the lead five minutes before half time.
The result means the tie is delicately poised going into the return leg in Sydney in five days’ time. The winner of the Asian play-off will next month face another two-legged showdown to reach Russia, against the fourth-placed team from the Concacaf section.
Seeking to make a fourth consecutive World Cup, Australia went in front just before the interval, when Mathew Leckie cut in from the hosts’ byline and shot across goal. Kruse provided the telling touch, diverting the ball past home goalkeeper Ibrahim Alma. The VfL Bochum winger, celebrating his 29th birthday, last scored for the national team two years ago.
Not long into in the second half, Australia nearly doubled their lead, however Tomi Juric twice hit the post in quick succession.
To their credit, Syria pushed for an equaliser in extremely humid conditions in Melaka, with Omar Al Somah and Omar Khribin their principal threats. On 78 minutes, captain Faris Al Khatib, only just introduced from the substitute’s bench, pulled the ball back to Al Somah. Yet the striker’s header cannoned off Australia goalkeeper Mat Ryan and then onto the post.
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Read more
Al Somah: Syria 'took control of match' in second half
'There's no impossible' as war-torn Syria eye finals
Kruse interview: Winger fuelled by 2014 heartache
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Syria were not to be denied, though. Six minutes from time, Leckie was ajudged to have fouled Al Somah as both players leapt for the ball in the Australia penalty area. The referee pointed to the spot, much to the visitors’ surprise, leaving Al Somah to step up and draw his side level.
It was the Al Ahli Jeddah frontman’s second international goal since earlier this year ending a five-year absence from the national team.
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
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F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
GROUPS AND FIXTURES
Group A
UAE, Italy, Japan, Spain
Group B
Egypt, Iran, Mexico, Russia
Tuesday
4.15pm: Italy v Japan
5.30pm: Spain v UAE
6.45pm: Egypt v Russia
8pm: Iran v Mexico
Citadel: Honey Bunny first episode
Directors: Raj & DK
Stars: Varun Dhawan, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Kashvi Majmundar, Kay Kay Menon
Rating: 4/5
MATCH INFO
Crawley Town 3 (Tsaroulla 50', Nadesan 53', Tunnicliffe 70')
Leeds United 0
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David Haye record
Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4
The specs: McLaren 600LT
Price, base: Dh914,000
Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 600hp @ 7,500rpm
Torque: 620Nm @ 5,500rpm
Fuel economy 12.2.L / 100km
Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
Global Fungi Facts
• Scientists estimate there could be as many as 3 million fungal species globally
• Only about 160,000 have been officially described leaving around 90% undiscovered
• Fungi account for roughly 90% of Earth's unknown biodiversity
• Forest fungi help tackle climate change, absorbing up to 36% of global fossil fuel emissions annually and storing around 5 billion tonnes of carbon in the planet's topsoil
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
How has net migration to UK changed?
The figure was broadly flat immediately before the Covid-19 pandemic, standing at 216,000 in the year to June 2018 and 224,000 in the year to June 2019.
It then dropped to an estimated 111,000 in the year to June 2020 when restrictions introduced during the pandemic limited travel and movement.
The total rose to 254,000 in the year to June 2021, followed by steep jumps to 634,000 in the year to June 2022 and 906,000 in the year to June 2023.
The latest available figure of 728,000 for the 12 months to June 2024 suggests levels are starting to decrease.
THE BIO
Favourite book: ‘Purpose Driven Life’ by Rick Warren
Favourite travel destination: Switzerland
Hobbies: Travelling and following motivational speeches and speakers
Favourite place in UAE: Dubai Museum
Scoreline
Syria 1-1 Australia
Syria Al Somah 85'
Australia Kruse 40'
