Soccer-'Sweeter and sweeter': Souttar racks up 10th goal to save Australia

It's just getting sweeter and sweeter, obviously." The match was held at Kuwait's Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium due to the Israel-Gaza conflict where the teams stood for a minute's silence ahead of the game and the crowd was right behind the world number 96 Palestinians. Australia's goalkeeper-captain Mat Ryan produced a brilliant save straight after the halftime break to preserve the lead against a brave Palestinian side, which has been forced to play home matches at neutral venues.

Australia defender Harry Souttar is building a record a striker would be proud of, having headed in a 10th goal from his 21st international against the Palestinian team to save the Socceroos in their World Cup qualifier. The towering, Scotland-born centre-back proved the difference in the scrappy 1-0 win in Kuwait on Tuesday, thumping in a pinpoint Craig Goodwin corner in the 18th minute to keep Australia top of Group I in Asian qualifying after two matches.

The goal was virtually a carbon copy of his fourth minute header in the 7-0 rout of Bangladesh in Melbourne last week, also with Goodwin the provider. "Great feeling to be on the score-sheet again. I never take it for granted," the Leicester City defender said.

"Scoring for your country is something really special. It's just getting sweeter and sweeter, obviously." The match was held at Kuwait's Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium due to the Israel-Gaza conflict where the teams stood for a minute's silence ahead of the game and the crowd was right behind the world number 96 Palestinians.

Australia's goalkeeper-captain Mat Ryan produced a brilliant save straight after the halftime break to preserve the lead against a brave Palestinian side, which has been forced to play home matches at neutral venues. Australia coach Graham Arnold said last week preparing his squad for the match in the Middle East had been "quite stressful" given the backdrop, and on Tuesday praised his team for holding steady to secure maximum points.

"Probably we didn't play our best, but the most important thing was the three points," he said. "I think we obviously can do better, but again I'm very proud of the boys after everything we've gone through and getting this game planned late, everything late.

"The fact we got it done is the main thing." Australia return home for their next 2026 qualifier against Lebanon in March.

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