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At the end of 90 minutes in Canberra Stadium the Socceroos could have perhaps been 5-0 up against Kyrgyzstan. Ange Postecoglou suggested it should have been 10-0.
Instead a 3-0 scoreline was enough proof of Australia’s dominance, which will give the squad a much needed boost after the 2-0 slip against Jordan last month.
There were impressive signs, with the Socceroos growing into the game and eventually overpowering a Kyrgyzstan side that struggled to match its performance from the previous encounter in Bishkek.
Goals to Mile Jedinak and Tim Cahill either side of half-time effectively sealed the game, while an unfortunate Ildar Amirov own goal completed the scoreline in the 69th minute.
From there Cahill should have completed his hat-trick, though some uncharacteristically wasteful finishing prevented a blowout win.
Yet despite the Socceroos exerting their dominance over the 90 minutes, the first 20 showed few promising signs of a new-look formation clicking into gear.
Postecoglou, facing perhaps one his hardest selection decisions as Socceroos boss, plumbed for a 4-4-2 or 4-2-2-2, whichever way you wish to interpret it. It was a new system for Australia, with Tomi Juric paired up front with Cahill and the team effectively playing without natural wingers.
The return of captain Jedinak had posed Postecoglou a dilemma, with none of Mark Milligan, Aaron Mooy, Massimo Luongo or Tommy Rogic deserving a spot in bench, having performed well in their leader’s absence.
Rogic’s heavy schedule with Celtic in the Scottish Premier League provided Postecoglou with one easy omission, yet the second casualty was harder to discern.
Would Postecoglou drop one of the remaining performing stars to the bench, or would he take the brave option and keep Jedinak out of the team, proving that no man’s position is safe in this squad?
He chose neither option, instead attempting to fit Milligan, Mooy, Jedinak and Luongo into the same starting XI.
Luongo, once again, was forced out of his most dominant position, and his performance once again suffered. For the Asian Cup’s player of the tournament, you would expect all would be done to provide a platform for Luongo to continue shining, yet that has not been the case in recent months.
Mooy and Luongo played ahead of twin holding midfielders Jedinak and Milligan, a central partnership that has always looked defensively sound but has never inspired going forward.
As mentioned, former Western Sydney Wanderers and current Roda JC striker Juric partnered Cahill up front for the first time. It was also the first time Postecoglou had picked two strikers as Socceroos coach.
The entire team looked devoid of pace, and the positioning of Luongo and Mooy gave the team a lack of width, which can be crucial to unlocking Cahill’s aerial game. Debutant James Meredith, who was excellent, and Ryan McGowan were instead expected to push forward from fullback instead.
The Socceroos’ start to the game did not thrill. Juric and Cahill struggled to find a way to gel in the front third of the pitch, and Luongo again looked uncomfortable out of position. The whole team struggled to find their first touch and rhythm in a scrappy opening.
That said, Cahill did hit the bar and Kyrgyz goalkeeper Pavel Matiash was forced into three good saves, but it was not a display to put fear into the solidity of the Jordan defence, for example.
Postecoglou may or may not have agreed there was a need for change – especially if the scoreline had stayed goalless at half-time – but was saved the need to make the decision when Juric went down with injury. On came Nathan Burns, and from the 30th minute onwards the side looked a whole lot more balanced.
Both Mooy and Luongo started to grow on the ball, the latter dropping down further alongside Milligan and Jedinak. Burns added the pace and directness that had been lacking up until that moment, and it was he who won the fortuitous penalty which allowed the Socceroos to take a 1-0 lead into the break.
The second half performance was further proof of a more balanced setup, with the Socceroos pushing on immediately from kick-off. Mooy slipped Cahill through with a beautiful ball in the 50th minute, Australia’s top goalscorer firstly making the inch-perfect run and then matching it with an emphatic finish.
Mooy grabbed another assist about 20 minutes later from a corner kick, Amerov heading into his own net, and from there it was just about how many the Socceroos would put past a dishevelled Kyrgyzstan team.
Rogic, despite failing to find the net or provide an assist, continued to build on his ever-growing reputation, toying with the Kyrgyz midfield and displaying uncanny vision, ball control and physicality. He really is the future of this football nation.
The near 20,000 strong crowd were entertained, in the end. Luckily their predilection for the cringeworthy “Aussie, Aussie, Aussie” chant did not take away from the overall on-field performance.
It was a dominant display, no doubts there. But it was not incredibly inspiring, especially considering the Socceroos will be facing much stronger opposition in the next phase of qualifying, which is still not a foregone conclusion.
With Kyrgyzstan forced into five changes from the last outing, including their best performers – Daniel Tagoe, Anton Zemlianukhin and Mirlan Murzaev – from that match, it was a much less potent foe. Without the threat of a blistering counter-attack, which caught Australia out too often last time, and against Jordan, the back four were never truly tested.
Yet you can only play what is in front of you, as they say, and the Socceroos completed the job at least convincingly.
If anything the game showed us that the Juric-Cahill partnership – granted only 30 minutes worth – still needs a lot more work on the training pitch before it can be transferred into stadium games.
It also proved how important Mooy continues to be for this team, as he carried the midfield in the creative stakes at times. You do have to feel for Luongo, however, as he has been sacrificed for the greater good. It would almost be better to drop him and play a natural winger if omitting Jedinak and Milligan are somehow impossibilities.
Meredith’s stellar performance also gives Postecoglou the first viable alternative to Jason Davidson the Socceroos boss has arguably ever had. It will be a fascinating battle between the two and will push them to higher levels.
And lastly, it was impressive to see just how fit Cahill still is. The Shanghai Shenhua marksman put in a strong shift in a more roving role then he is accustomed to with the Socceroos, and often found himself on the right wing.
Having just witnessed Kazuyoshi Miura celebrate his 48th birthday with a new professional contract, Cahill’s quest to make the 2018 World Cup becomes more and more plausible with each game he plays. You cannot make a case to drop him, not when he is still banging in goals. Just keep the book promotions off the field please, Timmy.
Three goals, three points, little worries and Bangladesh coming up – whom Tajikistan defeated 5-0 – will ensure Postecoglou and his team will be feeling rightly confident. Yet the big game is Jordan next March, and more will be needed to get past them.
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