SYDNEY: Sydney’s Olympic Stadium will host the second leg of Australia’s World Cup qualifier against Syria in October and also the home tie in the inter-continental playoff if Ange Postecoglou’s side make it that far. The Socceroos failed to qualify automatically for next year’s finals in Russia after they could only sneak a 2-1 win over Thailand in their final match in Melbourne on Tuesday. Saudi Arabia then beat Group ‘B’ winners Japan 1-0 in Jeddah later on Tuesday to clinch the second automatic spot, consigning Australia to the third-placed playoff against Syria. “We are all disappointed that we did not achieve direct qualification from our group but we are confident we can still make it to Russia,” Football Australia Chief Executive David Gallop said on Friday. Published in Daily Times, September 9th 2017.