Young excellence, promotion battles, and a happy farewell: The Australian team of the week from players around the globe
Even though St.Pauli ultimately lost a high-scoring affair, Jackson Irvine was a standout, as well as scoring a late goal.
The Socceroos have ripped Bangladesh to shreds in their World Cup qualifier with a ruthless 5-0 victory in Perth.
The reigning Asian Cup champions were never troubled on Thursday night against the world’s 173rd-ranked side, who were well off the pace in just about every department.
It took just six minutes for Australia to open the scoring and the manner in which they did so was a pointer to the utter dominance they would enjoy.
A simple cutback from Massimo Luongo found Mathew Leckie in the box, and he routinely swept home the ball underneath the outstretched glove of Bangladesh goalkeeper Sahidul Alam, who was under siege all night long.
Making his first international appearance in more than a year, midfielder Tom Rogic added the next two goals in the eighth and 20th minutes, the latter aided by a wicked deflection.
Nathan Burns provided the next just before the half-hour mark, while Aaron Mooy made it 5-0 in the 61st minute with a long-range screamer from outside the box.
In truth, the margin could and should have been far greater, but Australia clearly coasted through the second half and missed some easy chances from close range.
It all made for a party atmosphere for the crowd of 19,495 at nib Stadium, the biggest at the venue for a football match.
The turnout was a strong statement from the Perth public in the first Socceroos game held there in a decade.
Coach Ange Postecoglou had attempted to play down the chances of a bloodbath but, despite trying a new diamond midfield formation and some fresh combinations, he would have taken next to nothing from the match.
However, some of his selections were intriguing, not the least of which the decision to bench Tim Cahill, who had been unveiled as stand-in skipper the day before the match.
A sterner test no doubt awaits next week in Dushanbe against Tajikistan, who sit 153rd on the FIFA rankings.
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Even though St.Pauli ultimately lost a high-scoring affair, Jackson Irvine was a standout, as well as scoring a late goal.
What if we celebrated all of the achievements big and small, and weeded out those hell-bent on bringing down a game that is doing a hell of a lot right?
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