Aussies lash out at referee

– Australian players and media slammed the referee after Syria’s controversial late penalty dented their hopes of reaching next year’s World Cup following a 1-1 play-off draw in Malacca.

The Socceroos remain in the box seat ahead of Tuesday’s second leg in Sydney, where the eventual winners will go into a final play-off with the Concacaf federation’s fourth-placed team.

But Omar al-Soma's 85th-minute equaliser raised harrowing memories of the 1997 play-offs, when Australia drew 1-1 with Iran in Tehran but were held 2-2 at home to go out on away goals.

Forward Robbie Kruse (above) even claimed Iranian referee Alireza Faghani – who farcically gave him a yellow card when he went down with a serious injury in the 2015 Asian Cup final – was itching to give the penalty.

Australia were 1-0 up after Kruse’s first-half goal but the crucial moment came when Mathew Leckie made contact with al-Soma in the box as they both went up for a header.

“It was evident to everyone it wasn't a penalty,” Kruse told Australian media, adding: “You expect that from this referee, we’ve had him before.

“I think he wanted to give it as soon as we made contact.”

Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou said he was “bemused”, while Leckie called it “very poor”.

“It wasn’t like I made body contact and tried to put him off, I actually won the header. I don’t know what went through the ref’s mind,” Leckie said.

“Everyone’s pissed off because I think everyone who watched the game knows it wasn’t a penalty.”

The Herald Sun said Australia were “robbed” of victory, while one Fox Sports columnist questioned the wisdom of using a referee from Iran, which has close ties with Syria. –

Malacca