Soccer

Aussie Blow Lead Amongst Lasers

Thursday 7th January 2010

Author: LMSC

Photographer:

Australia's Asian Cup campaign has again been a source of minor embarrassment after the Socceroos conceded a two-goal lead to be held 2-2 to draw by Kuwait on Wednesday night putting their qualification on hold.

Luke Wilkshere and Dean Heffernan opening the scoring for the Australians early in the game before the Kuwaitis hit back and equalised prior to half-time.

The result was a forgettable one after the team had earlier allow Kuwait to claim victory in the former clash in Canberra last year.

With a majority A-League based squad, the local players were unable to claim the home points against the less fancied Kuwait, with the visitors taking a valuable 1-0 win.

The Australians now need a point from their final qualifying match against Indonesia in Brisbane in March to ensure a place in the 2011 Asian Cup.

Socceroos coach Pim Verbeek was content with the result and his hybrid A-League/European-based team's overall performance.

"I think we did very well for the first 35 minutes, but the last 10 minutes of the first half we give two goals away," Verbeek told Fox Sports.

"The last minutes of the first half we lost control of the midfield, but the second half we were much better organised.

"A little bit more sharpness in one-on-one situations and we could have won the game."

The Socceroos are locked on eight points with Kuwait at the top of Group B but trail on goal difference.

The game was also blighted by claims the local crowd had attempted to deliberately shine laser lights in the eyes of the Australians during the game.

Australia goalkeeper Eugene Galekovic and midfielder Dario Vidosic believe they were targeted by fans with a laser pointer, with pictures taken during the match appearing to confirm the complaint.

Verbeek said that he had mentioned the incident to match officials in an animated pitchside exchange during the first half and the Asian Football Confederation will investigate the matter.

"It was the goalkeeper, also at the corner-kicks; Dario Vidosic was taking the corner-kicks and they were pushing a laser on his face," Verbeek said.

"I mentioned it to the officials, but that's OK. Things like this happen."