Star defender Aziz Behich is in line to return to the Melbourne Heart FC squad for this weekend’s match against the Central Coast Mariners after he was ruled out of the Olyroos clash with Uzbekistan through suspension.
Star defender Aziz Behich is in line to return to the Melbourne Heart FC squad for this weekend-s match against the Central Coast Mariners after he was ruled out of the Olyroos clash with Uzbekistan through suspension.
Behich, who picked up his second yellow card of the London 2012 qualifying campaign during last night-s 0-0 draw with Iraq, returns to Australia tomorrow night, and faces a race against time to be ready in time for the crucial match-up at Gosford.
The 20-year-old wasn-t the only Heart player to feature in the crucial qualifier in Doha, with leading scorer Mate Dugandzic and Jason Hoffman named in the starting XI by Aurelio Vidmar.
Dugandzic had a chance to get his name on the scoresheet midway through the first half only to blaze a one-on-one chance high, while Hoffman was substituted in the 71st minute.
Olyroo Head Coach Aurelio Vidmar said the result means Sunday-s match in Parramatta is now a must win affair if the side hopes to maintain its chances of heading to London.
“Tonight we lost three points, we had very good chances in the first half and we should have had the game won by half time,” he said.
“We controlled the game for most of the 90 minutes and I couldn-t fault the effort of the players, we just couldn-t score a goal.
“The group is still very much open and we have an important match against Uzbekistan in five days time and we need to take three points”
