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The A-League looks set to provide the Socceroos’ army reserve rather than their World Cup frontline for the foreseeable future after home-based players opened Australia’s Asian Cup campaign with grit rather than glory in steamy Jakarta.
The hastily assembled Socceroos, made up entirely of A-League players and featuring nine debutants of the 14 who played, gelled enough to pinch a 0-0 draw in the Asian Cup qualifier against Indonesia on Wednesday night.
In an arm wrestle with few clear chances on a difficult pitch, the Socceroos battled manfully to take a point from the Group B qualifier.
The Socceroos sit third in their group with a game in hand after Oman’s 1-0 away win over Kuwait lifted the Arab sultanate to the top of the table.
They have four points from two games, Indonesia two points from two matches, and the Socceroos one from one with Kuwait – Australia’s next Asian Cup opponents on March 5 in Canberra – yet to open their account.
But Indonesia, ranked 115 places below Australia at world No.144, did create the better chances and could have pinched all three points with a little more ruthlessness in front of goal.
Coach Pim Verbeek, who had to watch from the stands as he serves a touchline ban hanging over from South Korea’s 2007 Asian Cup campaign, said the result was probably a fair one and conceded his side had made mistakes.
“We made things difficult for Indonesia in the first half and 0-0 is probably the best result,” Verbeek told reporters after the match.
“Some of our players did very well. They were all under pressure. This was a different game, a different stage. I’m glad they had the opportunity to get their first taste of international football.”
Adelaide United midfielder Paul Reid labelled the pitch at the Gelora Bung Karno stadium the worst he had ever played on.
“It was like playing beach soccer – that was how much it took out of our legs,” Reid said.
“It was very boggy, it was like a swamp. There was a cover of grass but there were potholes everywhere.
“But both teams had to play on it so you couldn’t make excuses over the pitch.”
While few, if any of the A-League players would have advanced their chances of making the full-strength squad Verbeek will select for the February 11 World Cup qualifier against Japan, most will get another chance on the international stage for the next Asian Cup match in Canberra.
Indonesia had the two best chances of the match, while Australia put the ball in the back of the net in the second half through Central Coast striker Matt Simon only to have the goal correctly ruled offside.
The home side gave the Australians a huge fright in the 35th minute when striker Talaohu Musafri shot just wide after the Socceroos lost possession in midfield.
Then striker Budi Sudarsano found himself in a great position on 62 minutes, but his close range header from a Musafri cross lacked power and dropped straight to thankful Socceroos keeper Eugene Galekovic.
Reid went closest for Australia in the 69th minute, bending a free-kick just wide.
While Australia’s understrength side got a result, Japan were surprised 1-0 by Bahrain in their away Group A match after leaving their European-based stars out.
Salman Isa scored a 25th minute winner to send Bahrain top of the group.
The top two sides in each group qualify for the 2011 Asian Cup finals in Qatar.
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