ASUTRALIA'S qualifying campaign for the 2012 London Olympics is still struggling for momentum after they were held to a 0-0 draw by Iraq at the Al Arabi Stadium in Doha.
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Because the match was outside official FIFA international dates, the Australians could not call up overseas-based players for Tuesday's clash, handing several rare opportunities to A-League players.
The Olyroos' best chance fell the way of Melbourne Heart's Mate Dugandzic, but the striker failed to control his finish, ballooning his shot well over the bar from close range.
Iraqi goalkeeper Jalal Hachim was in entertaining form, pulling off plenty of miraculous saves to keep his sheet clean.
The visitors continued to create the best chances, with Iraq content playing for the draw, and the hosts eventually held on to secure a share of the spoils.
It was Iraq's first point in the qualifying group after two games, while the result left Australia on two points following their second consecutive goalless draw.
After the match, Aurelio Vidmar was disappointed that his team was again unable to find the back of the net.
“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 point.”
The UAE will host Uzbekistan in the other Group B match day 2 fixture tonight at the Khalifa bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain.
The Olyroos now travel back to Australia to face Uzbekistan on Sunday at Parramatta Stadium.
With the loss of Behich and with Cameron Edwards returning back to England to join his club Reading FC, Vidmar has called in Newcastle Jets midfielder Ben Kantarovski and Melbourne Heart defender Curtis Good into the squad to face Uzbekistan.
The teams in each group of the third round of qualifying play in a home-and-away format from 21 September 2011, to 14 March 14, 2012, with the winner of each group directly qualifying for the London 2012 Olympic Games Football competition.
The three second-placed teams from the third round will clash in a playoff at a centralised venue from March 25 to 29, 2012, and the winners of this group will meet the representatives of CAF (Africa) for a berth in the 2012 London Olympic Games.
The Olyroos v Uzbekistan will be live on Fox Sports on Sunday.
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