Australia look to thwart Syrian dream

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Sydney, October 9: While local support will be firmly behind Australia's Socceroos, wider sentiment may spur the team from war-torn Syria to keep its World Cup dream alive when the teams meet on Tuesday (October 10) in a winner-takes-all qualifier.

The outcome of the match will decide which team progresses to an inter-continental playoff against the fourth-place team from CONCACAF the North and Central American and Caribbean confederation for a spot at the World Cup in Russia next year.

Syria kept its hopes alive with a late penalty which allowed it to snatch a 1-1 draw with Australia in its home leg of the two-leg playoff in Malaysia last week.

But it now must overcome Australia's home advantage to continue to lift the spirits of fans in the war-ravaged nation.