The Aussie commentator I'm listening to - who sounds very much like Shane Warne - is getting very excitable on the mike now.

Crikey.

Should be buried.

Tom Rogic is picked out in the area but his low shot is brilliantly saved by Ibrahim Alma diving to his left.

The ball drops to the Celtic man again from the corner, but this time Rogic curls his shot wide of goal.

End to end stuff in Sydney.

Where was Omar Al Somah??

Syria slice Australia open at the back courtesy of the willing runner Mardik Mardikian. He chases down a crossfield ball into the corner and feeds it into sub Firas Al Khatib, but then no Syria player can get on the end of his cutback.

Not this time.

Aaron Mooy scoops a cross into the box for Tim Cahill, but the Australia captain's header lacks power and is Inrahim Alma can collect.

Australia lack composure in the last third and their final ball has been extremely poor.

Brett Emerton will be tearing his hair out.

Image source, EPA

Nice.

Full-back Moyad Ajan picks out the dangerous Omar Al Somah by slipping a ball through down the left-edge of the box, but the Syrian striker's shot is straight at Mathew Ryan.

Encouraging signs for the visitors.

Mardik Mardikian's low drive dribbles into the grasp of home goalkeeper Mathew Ryan.

The Brighton goalkeeper has had little to do today.

Syria's most famous player Firas Al Khatib comes on for Oday Jaffal.

Half an hour remaining.

Probably should do better.

Huddersfield midfielder Aaron Mooy swings in a corner which Mathew Leckie flicks towards goal, but it drifts just wide.

Leckie was unmarked there.

For the first time in the second period, Syria break forward.

The brilliantly-named Mardik Mardikian works the ball on the right but instead of crossing the ball, attempts a whipped effort at goal which is easy for Brighton goalkeeper Mathew Ryan.

Image source, EPA

Celtic's Tom Rogic has had a couple of pops today but they have been from outside the box.

He has a go again from 20-odd yards out, but no problems for Syria goalkeeper Ibrahim Alma again.

Syria have provided little threat in the final third of the pitch in the second half.

They are content to keep their shape and let Australia have the ball.

Ese Agboaye: I can't believe Tim Cahill STILL plays international football! I thought he retired three years ago!

Image source, EPA

Huddersfield's shaven-headed midfielder Aaron Mooy curls a free-kick from 25 yards towards the top corner, but it is lacking in pace and Ibrahim Alma can easily gather.

Oh hello, it's heating up.

Syria's Mardik Mardikian earns a yellow for flattening Matthew Jurman early in the second half.

The hosts then earn a free-kick 25-yards out...

Back under way in Sydney.

Who will stand up and make themselves a national hero?

Just a reminder that the winner of this tie does NOT progress to next year's World Cup.

They face another two-legged tie against a Concacaf side next month.

Long road to Russia indeed.

Omar Al Somah opened the scoring for Syria with a composed finish, but Tim Cahill drew Australia level minutes later with a header.

As you were.