Aussies Abroad: Mixed fortunes overnight for Ryan and Degenek

There were two Caltex Socceroos in action on Wednesday morning (AEST), with significant results playing out for Mat Ryan and Milos Degenek.

Ryan’s Brighton & Hove Albion suffered an agonising late loss to Tottenham Hotspur in London, with an 88th-minute Christian Eriksen goal proving the difference in a 1-0 defeat for the side from the south coast.

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The Denmark international, who scored past Ryan in last year’s 1-1 FIFA World Cup draw between the two countries, unleashed a venomous strike past the Caltex Socceroos shot stopper to jeopardise the Seagulls’ survival hopes.

Brighton now sit just three points above the relegation zone, and have hit a poor run of form at just the wrong time, having lost four out of their past five games.

It was a bitterly unlucky end to the night for Ryan, who had pulled off a string of fine saves. The 29 shots faced by Aussie 'keeper was the most in Brighton's history in the Premier League.

It was a better night out for Milos Degenek in the AFC Champions League, as his Al-Hilal side ground out a 1-0 win over Iranian club Esteghlal despite being reduced to 10 men for almost the entire second half.

 

Sebastian Giovinco popped up in the 51st minute with a well-placed shot to give the Saudi Arabian powerhouse the advantage, but they were made to work for their win after Nawaf Al Abed was given a second yellow for a raised arm moments after the goal.

The result takes Al-Hilal top of Group C and within touching distance of another knockout run.