Australia fight back for 2-2 draw with Oman

Reuters: Australia were forced to come from two goals down to keep their bid to reach a third successive World Cup finals just about on track with a 2-2 draw against Oman in an Asian qualifier on Tuesday.

The visitors stunned the 34,603 crowd at Sydney’s Olympic stadium by taking a 1-0 lead through Abdul Aziz Mubarak in the sixth minute and doubling it courtesy of a Mile Jedinak own goal four minutes after the break.

Tim Cahill cut the deficit with a trademark header on 51 minutes, however, and midfielder Brett Holman equalised with a 25-metre strike five minutes from time.

The draw means Australia and Oman are locked together on six points, seven behind runaway Group B leaders Japan, one ahead of Iraq and two clear of Jordan, who meet the Japanese later on Tuesday. The top two qualify for Brazil in 2014.

Cahill was named man-of-the-match for what sometimes looked like a solo effort to get his side back into the match but Oman goalkeeper Ali Al-Habsi might feel aggrieved having denied the New York Red Bulls forward with a string of fine saves.