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China's Wu Lei converted a second half penalty to frustrate
Australia in Sharjah on Tuesday as Arnold's side went a third
game in succession without a win to slip to third in Asia's
Group B behind Saudi Arabia and Japan.
The top two finishers in both of Asia's qualifying groups
advance automatically to Qatar 2022 while the teams in third
spot will progress to a series of playoffs.
"We were a bit sloppy at times, but until the penalty there was
pretty much only one team in the game and that penalty gave them
energy," Arnold said.
"We moved the ball well and created some decent chances and we
just have to be positive and move forward."
Australia scored late in the first half, with Martin Boyle
heading home at the near post but the match turned when James
Jeggo was penalised for handball as he leaped to attempt a
clearing header.
"Until the penalty there was pretty much only one team in the
game and that penalty gave them energy," said Arnold.
After notching a record 11 successive qualifying wins, Australia
lost 2-1 away to Japan in Saitama last month and were held to a
0-0 draw by Saudi Arabia in Sydney last week.
Goalkeeper Mat Ryan said Australia had failed to do much with
their dominance of the play against China.
"Disappointing one tonight," he said.
"I don't think we did enough and didn't create enough clear-cut
chances."
Australia next face Vietnam at home in the January window,
before finishing qualifying for the finals in Qatar against
Oman, Japan and Saudi Arabia.
(Reporting by Ian Ransom in Melbourne; Editing by stephen
Coates)
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