The Caltex Socceroos will play Syria at Sydney’s Olympic Stadium in the home leg of their Asian World Cup playoff next month. We look back at their last five matches at the famous stadium.
The ground famously played host to Australia’s penalty shoot-out win over Uruguay which secured World Cup qualification on THAT night in November 2005.
But how have the Caltex Socceroos fared at the venue in more recent times? We look back at their last five matches at the famous stadium.
LECKIE LEAVES IT LATE
A Mathew Leckie strike in the dying moments gave the Caltex Socceroos a 1-0 friendly win over Greece in June 2016.
Shortly after Tim Cahill had a headed goal ruled out, Leckie swivelled on the edge of the area to drill home the winner.
ASIAN CUP GLORY
In front of over 76-thousand fans, Australia met South Korea in the 2015 Asian Cup final, and thought they’d claimed the silverware through Massimo Luongo’s first half goal.
But a late equaliser sent the match into extra-time, before substitute James Troisi scored the decisive goal and the Caltex Socceroos held on to be crowned Asian champions.
OMAN OVERRUN
In their second group match at the 2015 Asian Cup, the Caltex Socceroos ensured their passage to the quarter-finals with an emphatic 4-0 win over Oman.
Matthew McKay, Robbie Kruse and Mark Milligan all scored first half goals to put the result beyond doubt, with substitute Tomi Juric adding a fourth with 20 minutes remaining.
SCORE-DRAW WITH SOUTH AFRICA
A crowd of 50-thousand gathered to watch the Caltex Socceroos play their final match on home soil before the 2014 World Cup.
Ayanda Patosi’s early goal was quickly cancelled out by Tim Cahill’s equaliser, but there was to be no further scoring.
AUSSIES COMPLETE THE ROAD TO RIO
In June 2013, 80-thousand fans were on hand as Australia secured their place at a third-straight World Cup.
With the game goal-less inside the final ten minutes, Josh Kennedy rose to nod home Mark Bresciano’s precise cross and punch the Caltex Socceroos’ ticket to Brazil 2014.
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