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Celtic’s Rogic lifts Australia in AFC World Cup qualifying

Screen Shot 2017-06-08 at 8.06.14 AM

Twitter/@FootballOnLive

Tomas Rogic has had a track record of scoring splendid goals for both club and country, and that continued on Thursday.

[ MORE: USMNT faces Trinidad & Tobago in must-win WCQ ]

The Celtic attacker blasted home a thunderous left-footed strike against Saudi Arabia after the hour mark to lift Australia to a 3-2 victory in AFC World Cup qualifying.

Tomi Juric’s first-half brace gave Australia a 2-1 lead on the stroke of halftime, but Mohammed Al Sahlawi managed to pull the match level in stoppage time.

Meanwhile, the Saudi Arabia goalkeeper made a crucial blunder on a clearance during the first-half, which led to Juric’s first goal of the match for the Socceroos (see below).

[protected-iframe id="4d57968ac4d9aa29343d7eef30f331e5-33383242-81749177" info="https://streamable.com/s/jgglt/wqiizr” ]

The victory for Australia pulls the two nations level on points (16), but Saudi Arabia remains in second place in Group B based on superior goal differential.

With two matches remaining in the third round of AFC qualifying, Australia will be looking to move above Saudi Arabia in order to qualify directly for Russia 2018 and avoid a playoff.