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Patience key as Socceroos maintain perfect record

8th September, 2015
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Is TC our greatest ever athlete? (AAP Image/Dean Lewins)
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8th September, 2015
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Three points, a Tim Cahill brace and Ange Postecoglou didn’t get sacked. The scoreline may not speak for Tajikistan’s defensive resilience, but the Socceroos’ World Cup qualifying win in Dushanbe ticked as many boxes as you could hope for from another lengthy trip.

Postecoglou’s men are moving along nicely on the road to Russia, nine points from nine to top Group B. This second stage of qualification is expected to be a breeze, and the real test comes against Jordan next month, but the Socceroos have been efficient against the three minnows thus far.

The 2-1 win in Kyrgyzstan set the tone. The Aussies are clearly playing the role of David against the bottom three sides, tasked with breaking down stubborn opponents yearning for a point against the Asian champions.

Mile Jedinak’s goal after two minutes there settled things early on, and it wasn’t too much of a concern that Kyrgyzstan were vigorously searching for an equaliser in injury time. The result always looked in the bag.

Bangladesh were far more accommodating. Just six minutes had passed before Mat Leckie broke the deadlock, and the 173rd ranked nation succumbed with a whimper to the gulf in class.

But the Tajikistan match was a lesson in patience. Possession belonged to the Socceroos from the outset, the hosts’ game plan was clear. Postecoglou opted against taking a risk with some of the fringe players, with Tim Cahill, Matt McKay and Ryan McGowan – all players with international pedigree – the only changes to the side that trounced Bangladesh 5-0 last Thursday.

The calming influence of Tom Rogic was missed in the first half. The Celtic man floats through the middle of the park seamlessly and has a penchant for a decisive pass.

The trio of Mark Milligan, Aaron Mooy and Matt McKay were largely formulaic in the first 45. A vast majority of forays into the Tajikistan half resulted in switches to Leckie on the left, a play that quickly became predictable as the home defenders made clear they weren’t to be toyed with.

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It’s a credit to the Tajikistan backline that they managed to frustrate their opponents. The Socceroos were expecting to take a lead into the break and the overbearing desire for a goal caused a wave of misplaced passes and errant crosses.

Indeed, by the time Aaron Mooy was substituted on the hour mark, he had made 16 deliveries into the box – those in the second half far more dangerous as the Socceroos set up camp on the corner flag.

Tajikistan’s defenders were moving quickly and made a habit of intercepting passes to spark a counter attack. Though they were happy to throw numbers forward, thankfully for the Socceroos the home side were largely impotent on the break, making for a very quiet night as far as Adam Federici was concerned.

Postecoglou’s half-time words seemed to do the trick. The Socceroos emerged from the break with just as much purpose to attack, but far more method than madness.

Mooy hit the crossbar with a trademark free-kick just six minutes after the resumption and fluidity returned to Australia’s play.

Employing a bit of width worked wonders and they were probing with real purpose. When Cahill headed a Mooy corner over the crossbar just outside the six yard box, the signs were ominous.

Fifty-six minutes in, Mark Milligan finally made the breakthrough. It wasn’t attractive, but inner beauty is what counts with three points on the line.

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On came Nathan Burns and Tom Rogic – both starters against Bangladesh – and there was an even greater confidence going forward.

The second goal had Postecoglou salivating. Finally, 15 minutes from full-time, that was what he had been yearning for. There was no early cross this time around, but a brilliant ball from Burns to send Ryan McGowan to the by-line; Tim Cahill tapping in his cutback. That combination from the Netherlands match at the World Cup working a treat once more.

A 2-0 win would have been fine, but the injury-time clincher was well worth the wait. Tommy Oar, unused last week, delivered the ball on a plate for an unmarked Cahill and it was never in doubt from there.

Though Leckie is more dangerous running at defenders, Oar’s final product is tantalising and an easy route on goal when Cahill is in the box.

In his post-match interview, Cahill said he wasn’t just there to make up the numbers. He may be 35, but that’s now 41 international goals for a man who has relentlessly delivered in the green and gold.

He takes the headlines once again. An ultimately comfortable win and the signs bode well for the trip to Irbid in a month’s time.

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