Soccer-Hibernian's Boyle delighted to carry club form into Socceroos stint

By Michael Church

HONG KONG (Reuters) - Martin Boyle has already shifted his sights towards Australia's clash with Vietnam on Tuesday after carrying his early season club form into the Socceroos' World Cup qualifying campaign and helping Graham Arnold's side see off China on Thursday.

The Hibernian winger netted Australia's second in their 3-0 win over Li Tie's team at Doha's Khalifa International Stadium in their opening game of the final round of Asia's preliminaries for next year's World Cup.

Awer Mabil and Mitchell Duke were also on target for the Socceroos in the Group B clash as Arnold's side made a solid start to their quest for a top two finish and an automatic berth at Qatar 2022.

"It was exactly what we expected as a team," Boyle, who has scored four times in four Scottish Premiership games so far this season, said.

"We couldn't have gotten off to a better start, but we will take it game by game and we will go again on Tuesday.

"It's nice to be on the scoresheet again and to carry my form from club football to here, so I'm happy."

After the opening round of matches, the Australians share top spot in the standings with Saudi Arabia, who fought back to defeat Vietnam, and Oman, surprise winners against Japan.

Arnold's team, who were forced to play the game against China in Qatar due to Australia's pandemic travel restrictions, will travel to Hanoi on Saturday ahead of their meeting with Park Hang-seo's side.

"We are all striving for the same goal, we are all buying into what 'Arnie' wants to do here," Boyle said.

"Three points, the first game, convincingly, three goals and a clean sheet – we can't ask any more."

(Reporting by Michael Church, Editing by Peter Rutherford)

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