Asian Cup Q: Kuwait rally to stay on course for Qatar 2011
GROUP B leaders Kuwait and Australia remained on course for the 2011 AFC Asian Cup finals after sharing a 2-2 draw on Wednesday.
Australia stormed into two goal lead after just four minutes at Kuwait Sports Club Stadium as Russia-based Luke Wilkshire and Central Coast Mariners defender Dean Hefferman struck for the visitors.
However, Kuwait cut the deficit six minutes before the break though Hamad Al Enezi before Yousef Nasser completed the comeback four minutes later.
With third-placed Oman beating Indonesia 2-1 in Jakarta, Kuwait and Australia saw their lead at the top of the table cut to just a single point with just one game remaining.
On March 3, Australia entertain Indonesia, while Kuwait travel to Oman.
In front of large home crowd, Australia opened the scoring after just two minutes as Wilkshire was first to react to a loose ball on the edge of the area before firing past Kuwait goalkeeper Nawaf Al Khaldi.
Al Khaldi was beaten again two minutes later when a free-kick from the right caused confusion inside Kuwait penalty area allowing Heffernan pounce on a mistake from Youssef Al Sulaiman to double the lead.
Kuwait responded to the early double blow and came back into the contest and took control of the midfield while Australia were content to defend their advantage.
And Kuwait’s pressure eventually paid off after 39 minutes as Hamad Al Enezi launched a quick attack on the left before breaking into the area and firing a powerful shot into the far right corner past Adelaide United goalkeeper Eugene Galekovic.
And just four minutes later the home side were back on level terms as Bader Al Motawaa crossed for Nasser to fire home from an acute angle.
The home side continued to dominate in the second half and could have took the lead three minutes before the hour mark as a well-struck effort from Hamad Al Enezi just fell the wrong side of the right upright.
As the clock ticked down Kuwait stepped up their pressure and with nine minutes remaining second half substitute Fahed Al Enezi headed into the path of Hamad Al Enezi but Galekovic saved his volley to ensure Australia a point.
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