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Aussie coached Guam through in qualifier

3 minute read

Australian coach Karl Dodd may wind up facing the Socceroos after his Guam side reached the second round of Asian qualifying for the 2022 World Cup.

Karl Dodd of the Sharks kicks the ball the during the FFA Cup match between the Palm Beach Sharks and South Springvale at CBUS Stadium in Brisbane, Australia.
Karl Dodd of the Sharks kicks the ball the during the FFA Cup match between the Palm Beach Sharks and South Springvale at CBUS Stadium in Brisbane, Australia. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

A clash with the Socceroos may lie in wait for Australian coach Karl Dodd after he led Guam into the second round of Asian qualifying for the 2022 World Cup.

Guam thrashed Bhutan 5-0 in the second leg of their 2022 World Cup and 2023 Asian Cup preliminary joint qualification tie at the Guam FA Field on Tuesday.

Captain Jason Cunliffe scored a hat-trick for the Matao, while Isiah Lagutang and Shane Malcolm were also on target to overturn a 1-0 deficit from the first leg against the Himalayan nation.

The 5-1 aggregate victory puts Guam into the pot for the second round of qualifiers where they'll be one of 40 nations including Australia in the draw in Qatar on July 17.

Eight groups of five will be drawn for the second round to play home and away, meaning former A-League player Dodd, who had stints at the Queensland Roar, North Queensland Fury and Wellington Phoenix during his playing career, could be facing Graham Arnold's men.

The eight group winners and the four best runners-up advance to the third round.

Tuesday's match was Dodd's fifth in charge and is Guam's biggest World Cup qualifying victory.

The remote northern Pacific island nation took part in the 2002 World Cup qualifiers but were beaten 19-0 and 16-0 by Iran and Turkmenistan respectively.

In the 2018 World Cup qualifiers, Guam briefly led their second round group after wins over Turkmenistan (1-0) and India (2-1) before finishing with seven points from their eight matches.

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