- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
Coach Ange Postecoglou insists World Cup qualification remains in the Socceroos’ hands despite a decidedly poor display against minnows Thailand that leaves Australia on a rocky road to Russia 2018.
Tuesday night’s 2-2 come-from-behind draw was a missed opportunity for Postecoglou’s national side to top Group B, instead slipping to third after allowing themselves to be outdone by a Thailand who were yet to claim a point in Group B.
Two penalty goals from captain Mile Jedinak were the only thing to save the Socceroos from a humiliating defeat at a hot and sweaty Rajamangala National Stadium in Bangkok, where Australia’s usual impetus was replaced by disconnect and profligacy.
It is the Socceroo’s third consecutive draw after also being held by pacesetters Saudi Arabia and Japan last month.
Now out of the automatic qualification zone, the pressure will be on to play-catch-up in next year’s vital fixtures.
Still, a somehow buoyant Postecoglou was loath to call the showing anything other than a hiccup.
“I still think we’re in good shape,” Postecoglou said.
“We’ve got three home games next year and our performances, apart from maybe today, have still been strong.
“We’re halfway, we haven’t lost yet.
“We had a disappointing result tonight but qualification is still in our hands.”
Though Jedinak slotted his first from the spot inside 10 minutes, the Socceroos’ rare 10-day training camp counted for little against an enthusiastic Thai team backed by an even more zealous home crowd.
Opportunities galore gave early indications the scoreline could easily have blown out but the hosts capitalised on the little possession they had and, out of nothing, drew level with worrying ease.
They stroked the ball around before charging through the middle, exposing the otherwise well-performing Brad Smith with a through-ball that allowed Teerasil Dangda to slot home off a neat cross.
That changed the complexion of the game.
Thailand started penetrating Australia’s defence with regularity, playmaker Chanathip ‘Messi J’ Songkrasin forcing Mat Ryan into one of numerous fine saves.
The Socceroos, meanwhile, failed to turn their possession into anything meaningful, their Jamie Maclaren-led line seemed to be on different wavelengths, simple passes were miss controlled and offsides were plentiful.
The manner in which Postecoglou stormed off at the break signalled a halftime lashing was coming, yet if it did it made little difference.
It was all one-way traffic in favour of the winless hosts, and one foray forced early goal contender Mathew Leckie into an unnecessary challenge on Thai captain Theeraton Bunmathan.
Almost as soon as Teerasil sent the subsequent penalty past Ryan for the lead, Postecoglou switched to a diamond formation, substituting Maclaren and Leckie for veteran Mark Milligan and forward Nathan Burns, who rifled a long-range bullet into the crossbar.
The change brought an almost immediate effect as Siroch Chatthong fouled Jedinak and allowed him to restore parity with a penalty.
But even after the in-form Jackson Irvine was brought on for Matthew Spiranovic, who left the field with a suspected quad strain, the Socceroos could not muster a winner.
“We just didn’t control the game like we wanted to and ended up playing a game that suited them more than us,” Postecoglou said.
“It was hard for us then to gain momentum, particularly on a night when they were up for it.
“We got careless in possession, particularly in the front third.”
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.