Australia will be looking to climb into the automatic qualifying spots in Group B when they host group whipping boys Vietnam in the seventh group match at the AAMI Park on Thursday afternoon with kickoff at 12:10.
Australia seem to have lost their way in the third round of the AFC World Cup qualifiers following good campaigns in the previous rounds and perfect start to Group B of the current round. The Australians put their name among the big boys of the group at the beginning of the campaign after winning all their three opening matches.
They started by beating China 3-0 on the opening-day, and then followed that up with a 1-0 win against Vietnam before overcoming Oman with a 3-1 win in their third group match. However, heading the Thursday’s fixture Australia are winless in their previous three group matches, losing 2-1 to Japan first, before drawing with Saudi Arabia 0-0 and China1-1.
As a result the Socceroos dropped into the third spot where they sit on 11 points just a point behind the second-placed Japan and five points below Saudi Arabia at the summit. With now four matches remaining to go Australia still have chances of finishing in an automatic qualification spot if they are to turn around their form and starting picking up maximum points.
They will fancy their chances of picking points here as they have already beaten their opponents earlier in the group.
Meanwhile Vietnam will be looking for their first win and point in Group B going into their seventh group match. The side has lost all their opening six matches and currently sit rock-bottom with zero points.
However, Park Hang-Seo’s men still have slimmest of chances of making it to Qatar come November if they are to win all their remaining four matches and hope that their rivals will drop points. But that would be a fantasy at this point.
Australia vs Vietnam head to head
Tis will be second encounter between the two with Australia winning 1-0 at away in their first meeting. Considering the occasion we expect yet another close match between the two with an under 2.5 goal expected.
Home
- China 1-1 Australia
- Australia 0-0 Saudi Arabia
- Japan 2-1 Australia
- Australia 3-1 Oman
- Vietnam 0-1 Australia
Away
- Thailand 0-0 Vietnam
- Vietnam 0-2 Thailand
- Vietnam 4-0 Cambodia
- Indonesia 0-0 Vietnam
- Vietnam 3-0 Malaysia
Australia team news
Australia will be without Ajdin Hrustic through suspension due to accumulation of yellow cards.
Vietnam team news
Vietnam will be without Tuan Anh Nguyen and Thanh Chung Nguyen through suspension due to accumulation of yellow cards.
Prediction and odds
- Australia win
- Goals under 2.5
- Both sides to score (no)
