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.