CHANCE! The ball falls for Ikonomidis who unleashes a wicked shot that looks destined for the back of the net however Sulaiman Abdulghafoor comes up with a brilliant reflex save and tips the ball over the cross bar.
88'
Well in control on the scoreboard, the Socceroos are happy to share the ball around at the back and soak up some time as we approach the end of the 90 minutes.
87'
Hamad Al Harbi gets a touch on the throw in before it dribbles over the goal line and Australia have a set piece opportunity via a corner.
85'
Behich looks to deliver from the left to Mitch Duke in the middle however he has mis-hit the cross and it sails over the crossbar for a goal kick to Kuwait.
84'
Mohammad Al Huwaidi enters the game and replaces Fahad Al Ansari.
SUBSTITUTION KUWAIT - Looking for a late spark, Kuwait head to the bench once again with captain Fahad Al Ebrahim making way for Mohammad Al Hwedi.
83'
R. McGree enters the game and replaces A. Hrustić.
Yousef Naser fancies his chances from long range and unloads from well beyond the area however his shot never looked likely and Ryan is able to watch the ball bounce wide.
SUBSTITUTION AUSTRALIA - Fresh from scoring his first goal in the green and gold, Ajdin Hrustić leaves the pitch with Riley McGree to make his first appearance for the Socceroos.
81'
Bader Al Mutawa collides with Ryan McGowan and both players go down whilst the ball rolls over the goal line for an Australian goal kick.
78'
SUBSTITUTION AUSTRALIA - A productive night for Mathew Leckie whose shift is over - coming onto replace the skipper is Mitchell Duke.
77'
With just under fourteen minutes of regulation time remaining, a drinks break will give the players a chance to have a breather and steel themselves for one last effort.
75'
Hamad Al Harbi enters the game and replaces Fahad Al Rashidi.
M. Duke enters the game and replaces M. Leckie.
SUBSTITUTION KUWAIT - More fresh legs for Kuwait with Hamad Al Harbi coming on to replace Fahad Al Rashidi.
Minute
Description
74'
Yousef Al Sulaiman enters the game and replaces Mubarak Al Faneni.
SUBSTITUTION KUWAIT - Fawaz Al Mubailish has been replaced by Eid Al Rashidi.
Substitution Mubarak Al Faneni Yousef Nasser Al Salman
SUBSTITUTION AUSTRALIA - Awer Mabil is replaced by Chris Ikonomidis.
66'
A. Hrustić has scored a goal for Australia!
GOAL AUSTRALIA (Ajdin Hrustic) AUSTRALIA 3 KUWAIT 0 - Australia extend their lead with the first goal of the second half! A superbly taken free kick by Hrustic beats the wall and keeper Sulaiman Abdulghafoor before rattling the woodwork and deflecting into the back of the net.
65'
C. Ikonomidis enters the game and replaces A. Mabil.
Fresh onto the field, Chris Ikonomidis has been fouled and Australia will take the free kick from a very dangerous position.
64'
K. Dougall enters the game and replaces J. Holland.
A well taken free kick almost catches Ryan out of position however there is a touch too much weight on the ball and it lands on the top of the net.
SUBSTITUTION AUSTRALIA - The bench will play a huge role in these warm conditions - James Holland leaves the field with Kenneth Dougall preparing to join the action.
62'
Eid Al Rashedi enters the game and replaces Bandar Al Salama.
Substitution Bandar Al Salama Eid Naser Al Rashedi
61'
Bader Al Mutawa enters the game and replaces Fawaz Al Otaibi.
CHANCE! Best chance of the match so far for Kuwait! Milos Degenek's pass in midfield is intercepted and, in a flash, Kuwait are on the attack - Shabaib Al-Khaldi bursts inside the penalty area and unleashes a wicked shot from close range that forces a save from Ryan at the near post.
Substitution Fawaz Al Otaibi Bader Al Mutawa
58'
Karacic goes down and is stripped of possession and Kuwait waste no time at all in looking to set up on the counter attack.
56'
Leckie edges inside the penalty area and looks to deliver to Awer Mabil in front of goal however the Kuwait defence are in excellent position to deal with the cross.
54'
Shabaib Al-Khaldi is on the end of some contact from Irvine and Kuwait are awarded a free kick deep inside their own territory.
53'
A break in play here with Ahmad Al Dhefiri slow to get to his feet and requiring the assistance of the medical staff.
51'
Irvine is taken down from behind by Ahmad Al Dhefiri and Australia have won a free kick just short of half way.
48'
Boyle muscles his way inside the penalty area however he has been well tracked by Fahad Al Hajeri and, under pressure, is unable to control his attempted cross.
45' +3
Hrustic tees up from the edge of the penalty area however his shot is well blocked and that will just about do us in the first half.
45' +2
CHANCE! Mubarak Al Faneeni almost runs onto the ball with just the keeper ahead however Ryan is up quickly to deny him a shot at goal.
45'
There will be three minutes of additional time to be played in this first half.
SECOND HALF - We are back underway with Kuwait kicking off!
44'
Behich gets into the back of his direct opponent and Kuwait have been awarded a free kick within striking range.
After an excellent build up from Kuwait, Shabaib Al-Khaldi gets on the ball on the left however he runs into a wall of Australian defenders and is stripped of possession.
42'
A long throw in from Karacic carries all the way into the penalty area however the Socceroos will advance no further with the linesman's flag up for offside.
41'
Boyle's attempted cross from the left is partially blocked and Hrustic can't quite get on the end of the rebound.
39'
CHANCE! Irvine flicks the ball on with a clever header into the path of Aziz Behich who unleashes a sweetly struck volley however his shot flashes just wide of the post.
37'
Boyle plays the ball down the line for Fran Karacic however the defender is unable to control the pass and Kuwait have a throw in.
35'
Ahmad Al Dhefiri has his shirt tugged from behind by James Holland and Kuwait are awarded a free kick just short of half way.
34'
With nothing on ahead of him, Mubarak Al Faneeni pulls the trigger from long range however he has lifted his shot well over the crossbar.
32'
An opening here for Kuwait who have won a corner kick.
31'
We will have drinks break with players on both sides taking the opportunity to rehydrate in these extremely warm conditions.
27'
Kuwait will feel a little hard done by with replays appearing to show there may not have been much in the penalty call.
24'
J. Irvine has scored a goal for Australia!
GOAL AUSTRALIA (Jackson Irvine) AUSTRALIA 2 KUWAIT 0 - Australia double their lead in this first half! Sulaiman Abdulghafoor comes up with a brilliant save from the Martin Boyle spot kick however first to react is Jackson Irvine and he hammers the ball into the back of the net.
23'
Penalty to Australia! Hrustic cuts inside before appearing to have his legs taken out from under him by Fahad Al Ebrahim and referee Iida does not hesitate in pointing to the spot.
22'
Bandar Al Salama gets yellow.
YELLOW CARD KUWAIT - Fahad Al Ebrahim Al Ansari shows his displeasure at the penalty call and in his frustration he manhandles referee Iida and picks up a booking.
21'
Free kick to Australia in a very dangerous position in front of goal.
The free kick from Hrustic takes a deflection on the way through and drops quickly towards goal however it doesn't drop quickly enough and lands on the top of the net.
18'
A well-placed pass from Mubarak Al Faneeni is intended for Shabaib Al-Khaldi who looks to be through on goal however Ryan McGowan gets in a very important touch.
17'
Hrustic sends a long corner kick to the far post where Boyle is arriving quickly however Mubarak Al Faneeni is awake to the situation and he gets in a timely touch.
15'
Awer Mabil gets on the end of a promising build up for the Socceroos however his shot has been well-blocked by Hamad Al Qallaf.
13'
Martin Boyle has a crack from long range however his effort misses narrowly to the near side - Australia continue to look dangerous in attack.
12'
The Kuwait defence are unable to deal with the cross in from the left which creates an opening for Leckie however he has dragged his hurried shot well wide.
10'
A well placed corner kick from Hrustic creates a scramble in the box - Australia are up calling for a penalty however referee Jumpei Iida is having none of it.
8'
A long ball forward from Kuwait catches Mathew Ryan out of his area but he brings the ball safely to ground with his chest.
6'
The heat will be a huge factor this evening at Al Kuwait Sports Club Stadium - the temperature for this first half is just a tick under 40 degrees celsius.
4'
Australia are doing all the attacking in the opening minutes and look like scoring almost every time they win possession.
1'
M. Leckie has scored a goal for Australia!
A very early corner for the Socceroos - it will be Ajdin Hrustic to deliver from the right.
FIRST HALF - Australia kick off and we are underway in the first half!
GOAL AUSTRALIA (Mathew Leckie) AUSTRALIA 1 KUWAIT 0 - The Socceroos could not have asked for a better start! A lapse in defence from Kuwait allows Mathew Leckie a free jump at the ball and with a powerful header he opens the scoring for Australia.
The last time these two sides met was back in September 2019 when a first half brace from Mathew Leckie fired the Socceroos to a 3-0 victory at Al Kuwait Sports Club Stadium.
Kuwait sit in second place just behind Australia and will be desperate for a win that would catapult them to the top of the Group B standings. Apart from the advantage of playing on home turf, they will come into this clash full of confidence following a comprehensive 4-1 defeat of Malaysia in a recent International Friendly.
With four wins from their four matches to date, Australia currently sit clear on top of the Group B standings and are favoured to progress to the third round. However, it will be far from easy - it's been 567 days since the Socceroos last played, before the Covid enforced break, and they face a tough schedule with four matches in the next thirteen days.
Welcome to Jaber Al-Hamad Stadium in Kuwait City where, after an 18 month hiatus, Australia and Kuwait resume their 2022 World Cup campaigns in Group B of the Asian Qualifiers.
HALF TIME: AUSTRALIA 2 KUWAIT 0 - Referee Iida blows his whistle to end an eventful opening 45 minutes on a steamy evening at Jaber Al-Hamad Stadium! The Socceroos got off to a flyer when Mathew Leckie headed home in the opening minute of the match. Australia continued to dominate and created the best of the opportunities and they doubled their lead following a somewhat dubious penalty that was saved before Jackson Irvine blasted home on the rebound. Kuwait had their moments and are still well in the contest with an exciting second half ahead.
FULL TIME: AUSTRALIA 3 KUWAIT 0 - Australia have taken a big step forward towards advancing to the next stage of qualification with an excellent all-round performance. The tempo dropped considerably in the second half when the heat started to take its toll however Australia consolidated their lead in the 66th minute courtesy of a stunning Ajdin Hrustic free kick. The Socceroos maintain their unbeaten record at the top of the standings and face Chinese Taipei next whilst Kuwait face Jordan in what becomes a crucial clash.
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