Indonesia’s Justin Hubner (right) runs with the ball past Australia’s Nestory Irankunda during the 2026 FIFA World Cup Asian qualification football match between Indonesia and Australia at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta on September 10, 2024. (AFP/Bay Ismoyo)
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ustralia endured a disappointing evening in Asia's World Cup qualifying on Tuesday as Graham Arnold's side were held to a 0-0 draw by Indonesia while Saudi Arabia defeated China, South Korea sealed a 3-1 win over Oman and Japan thrashed Bahrain.
The Socceroos dominated in front of almost 80,000 fans at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta, but Indonesia remain above them in Group C as they seek to qualify for the World Cup for only the second time.
It was Indonesia's second draw after a 1-1 in Saudi Arabia last week, but Australia were shocked 1-0 at home by Bahrain in their World Cup qualifying opener.
The Socceroos head coach Graham Arnold made five changes to his line-up with highly rated Bayern Munich teenager Nestory Irankunda given a chance to shine from the start.
Kusini Yengi was suspended after his red card against Bahrain while central defender Alessandro Circati was again employed as a makeshift right-back.
Australia were by far the better side, forcing a succession of corners with big centre-back Harry Souttar creating havoc in the Indonesia defence.
The 18-year-old Irankunda was at the heart of all Australia's best attacking play.
In the 34th minute he came within a whisker of putting his side ahead when his right-foot thunderbolt rattled the post from 25 yards before rebounding off the back of the diving goalkeeper and away to safety.
The second half followed the same pattern as the first, with Australia on top but failing to find any cutting edge in front of goal.
There was frustration, too, for Asian champions Qatar, who drew 2-2 with North Korea in Group A as Iran downed the United Arab Emirates and Uzbekistan beat Kyrgyzstan to make it two wins from two.
The Australians faced Indonesia in Jakarta hoping to bounce back from their opening 1-0 loss against Bahrain in Group C but teenage forward Nestory Irankunda went closest for the Socceroos when he hit the post with a low drive in the 33rd minute.
The Saudis, also in Group C, fought back from going behind to an own goal from Ali Lajami in the 14th minute to pick up three points against China in Dalian.
Roberto Mancini's side were reduced to 10 men when Mohammed Kanno was dismissed for kicking out at Jiang Shenglong but Hassan Kadish headed in Nasser Al-Dawsari's corner to level shortly before halftime.
Kadish then decided the game with a powerful 90th-minute header after Salem Al-Dawsari had earlier hit the crossbar.
Japan top Group C with maximum points as two goals each from Ayase Ueda and Hidemasa Morita saw Hajime Moriyasu's side hand their hosts Bahrain a comprehensive 5-0 defeat, with Koki Ogawa completing the scoring in Riffa.
Uzbekistan moved to the summit in Group A when a 72nd-minute goal from Oston Urunov sealed a 3-2 win over Kyrgyzstan in Bishkek as Srecko Katanec's side picked up their second win in a row.
The Uzbeks are joined on six points by Iran, after Mehdi Ghayedi whipped in a clinical finish in first-half injury time to hand Paulo Bento's UAE a 1-0 defeat in Al Ain.
North Korea frustrated the Qataris in the pouring rain in Vientiane when Kang Kuk Chol cracked in a 50th-minute free kick to earn his side 2-2 draw despite playing much of the game with 10 men following Jang Kuk Chol's red card.
In Group B, Son Heung-min scored South Korea's crucial second in Muscat against Oman to seal his side's first win of the third round after Hwang Hee-chan had his opener cancelled out by Jung Seung-hyun's own goal.
Son netted with eight minutes remaining and Joo Min-kyu put the result beyond doubt deep in injury time to lift the pressure on head coach Hong Myung-bo following an opening 0-0 draw with Palestine.
The Koreans are in a three-way tie at the top of the standings after Jordan followed up their opening draw with Kuwait to defeat Palestine 3-1 in Kuala Lumpur, with Yazan Al-Naimat scoring twice.
Iraq are also on four points having been held to a 0-0 draw by hosts Kuwait despite playing the majority of the game with 10 men following Rebin Sulaka's seventh minute sending off.