Australia’s Olympic football hopes will rest solely with the Matildas after the men failed to qualify.
The Olyroos were held to a goalless draw by hosts Qatar in their final group match of the U-23 Asian Cup, which serves as the Olympic qualifying tournament, leaving them with two points and no goals from their three matches.
Australia pressed for much of the match and created a number of chances, but like in their previous matches, they were unable to capitalize on those opportunities.
As it happened, it wouldn’t have mattered if they had.
For Australia to qualify they not only needed to win but Indonesia needed to lose. Instead, Indonesia, which had beaten Australia 1-0, beat Jordan 4-1.
Qatar and Indonesia advance from the group to the quarterfinals, with the top three in the event qualifying for Paris.
The Olyroos will miss the Games for the fourth time in the last three editions, failing to qualify for London 2012 and Rio 2016, before finishing third in the 2020 U-23 Asian Cup and booking their ticket to Tokyo, where they fell in the cluster. scenery.
After drawing 0-0 with Jordan and losing 1-0 to Indonesia, Tony Vidmar’s players faced Qatar at Al Rayyan’s Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium on Sunday (early Monday AEDT) hoping to break their scoring streak and receive a lifeline in the group’s other game. playing simultaneously.
Vidmar made three changes from the defeat to Indonesia with Rhys Youlley, Lachlan Brook and Nicolas Milanovic returning to the starting XI.
Although Qatar had already qualified, the first period was a cautious one and little had happened when Australia were forced to make a change after Jake Hollman pulled out. Keegan Jelacic replaced him.
Then Australia started to press and should have taken the lead at half-time.
Youlley made a good save at the near post, then Jacob Italiano fired over when well placed, before Milanovic somehow crossed the goal from beyond the far post.
At half-time news came that Indonesia were leading 2-0, but Australia’s match remained decidedly goalless.
With 20 minutes left, the Kuol brothers, Alou and Garang, were introduced as the Green and Gold tried in vain to get something out of the game.
Jelacic came closest, a volley deflected onto the post as Indonesia, in nearby Doha, sealed their victory.
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AAP
