With one spherical of matches to go, Australia high Group B with an ideal six factors, two forward of Uzbekistan. Syria have one level and India no factors and no objectives.

Uzbekistan solely want a degree from their ultimate recreation — towards Australia on Tuesday — to ensure they undergo after easing to a 3-0 win over India.

Australia and Syria mustered just one shot on the right track every of their recreation, however Socceroos coach Graham Arnold dismissed the suggestion that his facet had been fortunate to win.

“The most important thing for us is our mentality, our work rate and keeping a clean sheet,” stated Arnold, who took Australia to the final 16 of the Qatar World Cup, earlier than shedding 2-1 to eventual champions Argentina.

“Clean sheets win tournaments,” added Arnold, whose crew beat India 2-0 of their opening recreation and are thought of one of many contenders to win the Asian Cup.

Australia received the title in 2015 on house soil.

They had extra of the ball towards a cussed Syria however struggled to interrupt their opponents down.

Lower-ranked Syria might need taken the lead inside 5 minutes however Colombian-born striker Pablo Sabbag hit the publish.

With Australia struggling to create probabilities, Arnold made a triple substitution within the 57th minute, together with throwing on the attacking midfielders Riley McGree and Samuel Silvera.

Three minutes later they took the lead via Germany-based Irvine.

The midfielder swivelled within the field earlier than poking the ball via the legs of goalkeeper Ahmad Madanieh for his second purpose of the competitors.

Uzbekistan, who have been held 0-0 by Syria of their first recreation, had no such hassle breaching India’s leaky defence.

The Uzbeks have been 3-0 up on the break following a torrid first half for Igor Stimac’s males.

The Central Asians have been forward inside 5 minutes, via an Abbosbek Fayzullaev header, the 20-year-old CSKA Moscow winger nodding in Otabek Shukurov’s looping header.

Chaotic Indian defending led to the second 14 minutes later, a sliding Sandesh Jhingan chipping the ball towards his personal bar for Igor Sergeev to attain on the rebound.

Ranked 102nd on this planet to Uzbekistan’s 68, India had their moments however have been principally restricted to speculative crosses in entrance of greater than 38,000 folks on the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium.

Their hopes of a comeback have been extinguished throughout first-half stoppage time, Sherzod Nasrullaev exploiting some statuesque defending to notch a 3rd.

In the ultimate match on Thursday, Palestine play the United Arab Emirates.

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