- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
In the pre-game presser, Kyrgyzstan coach Aleksandr Krestinin admitted that some of his players were nervous ahead of their match against the Socceroos and that the team would “pay more attention to the defence”. Yet apart from a jittery opening minute his players were anything but overawed on Tuesday night.
This was the biggest match Kyrgyzstan had witnessed in Bishkek for many years and various fans and media personalities were predicting a blowout score in favour of the Socceroos. You would not have blamed the hosts if they had sat back and soaked up Australian pressure.
Yet under Krestinin the motive is steadfastly to play for three points, no matter how illustrious the opponent. And for the majority of the 2018 World Cup qualifier Krygyzstan were undoubtedly the better team, making a mockery of their 177th ranking in the FIFA standings.
In a week where football minnows such as the Faroe Islands, Albania, North Korea and Guam delivered shock victories, the White Falcons were close to delivering a similar headline-grabber.
This team did not look like a side that has never qualified for an Asian Cup, and certainly did not look like a team that had only played one competitive match in the past year or so.
The Socceroos can be grateful that goalkeeper Valerij Kashuba had a shaky start, though he was not aided by a dodgy bounce, letting through a routine Mile Jedinak free kick with barely a minute on the board. Following the lapse in concentration, however, the Kyrgyz attacked with gusto, pressing the Socceroos incessantly and holding an ambitiously high defensive line.
Forward Mirlan Murzaev scraped shots just wide of Mat Ryan’s post twice in the first half, there were a number of half-chances from distance and the Socceroos looked extremely vulnerable from set pieces.
The midfield trio of Edgar Bernhardt, Bahtiyar Duishebekov and Farkhat Musabekov hassled and harried like demons, exhibiting exceptional ball skills, coolness in possession and neat turns to shake off their direct opponents in Jedinak, James Troisi and Mark Milligan.
Australia’s wingbacks in particular were being given a torrid time, Aziz Behich struggling to contain a lively and skilful Anton Zemylanukhin – who would not look out of place in a top European league – and Ivan Franjic burned for pace every time Mirlan Murzaev got the ball on the opposite flank.
Then there was the Ghanian-born central defender Daniel Tagoe, who dominated in the air and made some crucial challenges throughout the 90 minutes. The most impressive were two sliding tackles on Mathew Leckie and Tommy Oar either side of half-time which prevented clear-cut chances.
The crowd was absolutely rocking, jumping to their feet every time Kyrgyzstan crossed the halfway line and getting more involved the longer their team continued to grab the best of the chances. They were just as surprised as anyone, and it was a pleasure to witness.
Kyrgyzstan did not let up in the second half either, continuing their dominance with Edgar Bernhardt twice wiggling free in the box and going close to goal. Yet an equaliser that almost felt inevitable never arrived.
Oar was the man who would eventually determine the result, his injection from the bench for the solid Nathan Burns giving Australia a more direct route towards goal. Oar’s willingness to run at the Kyrgyz defence paid dividends when Milligan took control in midfield and slipped through a perfect outside-of-the-boot through ball for the young forward to convert.
It was a cruel blow to Kyrgyzstan, but it had no affect on their game. The sell-out crowd of 18,000, probably overflowing with a few extras, and rapturous atmosphere was urging them to at least grab a goal, and the Kyrgyzs delivered in extra time.
There may have been a strong hint of handball – replays were not available in the Spartak Stadium press area – but Azamat Baymatov’s conversion from a corner was more than deserved.
For the Kyrgyzstan players this was the biggest game of their lives and they gave themselves and football in their country a huge boost.
“I think Kyrgyzstan football did very well. This was a very big game in Kyrgyzstan and I hope a lot of people were surprised that we played 2-1. It was OK for us, I was not surprised,” Tagoe said after the match.
“I think a lot of people were thinking 4-0, 5-0, 6-0 or 7-0 and more. And I said ‘no, football is football, the ball is round’. We knew that Australia they are a very good team but we said we’ll try our best with our own style.
“We had opportunities [to win] but I think some of our players were panicking or something. If we play a lot of big matches we get more confidence and we can play better than this.”
Kyrgyzstani-German Edgar Bernhardt admitted that the early goal “killed” Kyrgyzstan and was a big set back.
“But in the end 2-1 against Australia, against the Asian champion, and we don’t play kick and run, we play football. We try everything to make a good game, to make a good game for the supporters,” he said.
“I hope everybody enjoyed, of course the result is not good enough for us. We want three points.”
The ambition and confidence Krestinin has instilled in his players is not so different from what Ange Postecoglou has provided for the Socceroos, and this match will only give them further motivation to tackle the upcoming World Cup qualifiers with vigour.
For the Socceroos the victory in tough circumstances is a job well done, and a perfect start to qualifying for Russia 2018, albeit with a performance that will no doubt need improving.
Kyrgyzstan has more than enough quality to challenge Jordan for second spot in Group B, which would give them a strong chance of qualification for the 2019 Asian Cup. For this city, this nation, Australia’s visit could prove the catalyst for a brighter future for football.
Are you the ultimate team manager? Pick your own superstar team and go head to head with other football fans for glory and cash prizes on Draftstars. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.