Thursday evening sees the continuation of the Asian World Cup qualifiers and features a top-of-the-table Group B clash between Australia and Kuwait at the Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium, with just two points separating the two sides.
This fixture will actually be played in Kuwait but this shouldn’t faze Australia too much as The Socceroos proudly sit top of the group with a 100% winning record, scoring a total of 16 goals and conceding just a miserly single goal in reply in the process.
We've arrived in Kuwait! 🛫@milosdegenek45 takes you behind the scenes of our travels from 🇦🇪➡️🇰🇼#AllForTheSocceroos #AsianQualifiers pic.twitter.com/36X26E73hw— Socceroos (@Socceroos) June 2, 2021
We've arrived in Kuwait! 🛫@milosdegenek45 takes you behind the scenes of our travels from 🇦🇪➡️🇰🇼#AllForTheSocceroos #AsianQualifiers pic.twitter.com/36X26E73hw
Previous wins against Kuwait (3-0 away), Nepal 5-0, a 7-1 hammering of Chinese Taipei and a 1-0 win on the road at Jordan have helped Australia to the top of the group and another three points against their closest rivals, 2nd placed Kuwait, on Thursday evening would see the Aussies take a big step towards automatic qualification for the 2022 World Cup.
Goals could also feature in this fixture as Australia have won the previous three meetings on the trot, scoring 11 goals and conceding just 1 in 3-0, 4-0 and 4-1 victories respectively.
Look out for strikers, Taggart (3 goals) and MacLaren (4 goals) in particular.
Kuwait hold home advantage but they’re likely to be bracing themselves for this important fixture in Group B having suffered at the hands of Australia in the previous three encounters and their opposition now have the finish line in their sights.
Kuwait currently occupy 2nd place in the group but they are level on 10 points apiece with 3rd placed Jordan prior to these midweek fixtures and although Kuwait really need a result here, this may well be easier said than done.
Nevertheless, Kuwait still pose a threat to Australia as they have inflicted 7-0 and 9-0 thrashings of Nepal and Chinese Taipei respectively, along with a 1-0 win away at Nepal and holding Jordan to a 0-0 draw on the road as well.
However, the bigger picture shows that Kuwait have managed just three wins from their last 10 World Cup qualifiers and previous recent history suggests that they could have their work cut to try and get a result against their nemesis, Australia, whom they’ve suffered heavy defeats against in each of their last three meetings.