Hrustic moves Australia a step closer to World Cup

Australia's forward Mathew Leckie runs with the ball during the FIFA World Cup 2022 play-off qualifier football match between UAE and Australia at Ahmad bin Ali stadium in Qatar's Ar-Rayyan. (Photo by KARIM JAAFAR/AFP via Getty Images)

A late deflected goal from Ajdin Hrustic edged Australia to a 2-1 win over the United Arab Emirates in their Asia World Cup qualifier play-off at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium in Qatar.

The Socceroos, looking to reach a fifth straight World Cup finals, had missed out on automatic qualification, finishing behind Saudi Arabia and Japan, while the UAE were third in Group A.