Indonesia’s Astaman Ponaryo, left, and Australia’s Jacob Burns. AP Photo/Tertius Pickard
Mark Milligan’s first international goal was all Australia had to show for 90 minutes of domination against Indonesia but it still brought the desired reward at Suncorp Stadium.
The Socceroos’ 1-0 victory in their final Asian Cup qualifier on Wednesday night ensured a safe passage into the 2011 tournament in Qatar.
Requiring just a draw to ensure a second Asian Cup campaign, a determined Milligan sealed the Socceroos’ place in the 42nd minute with a scrambling goal from a Luke Wilkshire free kick.
One of just three foreign-based players in the mostly A-League squad, 2006 World Cup member Milligan had some luck on his side but Australia deserved to win by more as they 22 shots at goal to the visitors’ three.
The Japan-based former Sydney FC defender shouldered Wilkshire’s cross on to the cross bar before swivelling on a tight angle to hammer the ball into goalkeeper Markus Harison Rihihina, with it deflecting into the net.
It brought the 20,422-strong crowd to their feet.
“I don’t mind how it comes, it’s my first goal for the national team,” Milligan told ABC Radio.
“I was lucky it fell nicely for me off the cross bar, it doesn’t happen often.
“We obviously would have liked a second.
“We were solid in defence as a team and as a unit so we’re happy to be in the Asian Cup and that’s all that matters.”
The lacklustre Indonesians gave their stretcher bearers almost as much work as captain and lone striker Bambang Pamungkas, who pre-match promised a far more difficult assignment for the home side.
Indonesia’s last victory against the Socceroos came in the 1981 World Cup qualifiers and the visitors never looked like ending their 30-year drought.
Even when they went a goal down the Merah Putih were hesitant and failed to force the pace, leaving Pamungkas and fellow attacking spark Budi Sudarsono with little action.
The Socceroos enjoyed close to 80 per cent of the possession and had countless chances to kill off the visitors early in the second half.
In one five-minute period, striker Josh Kennedy missed two headers in the box and then spoilt a golden chance for Wilkshire by intercepting a brilliant Oar cross meant for the Dynamo Moscow utility.
Captain Culina also unleashed a series of long-range shots, further testing an up-to-the-task Markus with each.
Twin debutants Oar and Sydney FC defender Shannon Cole, highly impressive in his 72 minutes on the wet pitch, were among Verbeek’s best.
Older hands Culina, Wilkshire and Simon Colosimo were also stand-outs while Kennedy had an off night.
Right-side attacker Mile Sterjovski paid the price for a lacklustre first half, replaced at halftime for Wilkshire to move up field and substitute Matt McKay to add extra midfield spark.
The Suncorp Stadium surface was in amazing shape despite five days of persistent rain in Brisbane and the first half was played in wet and muggy conditions.
Punter
Guest
While I don't disagree with most things you have said about PIM & his playing style (I too wish he was more adventurous). But 2 things you have to bear in mind. Firstly, you have to play to your strenghts, you don't see many Aussies in the Champions league, there are less players in the premier leagues in Europe (PL, La Liga, & Serie A) than say in 06. So PIM has got them playing a dour, solid but result orienated way (yes I too am disappointing & have grave doubts about this style at the WC). But seriously, we needed to qualify for the WC, playing brillant flashy football but not qualifying for the WC would have not done this country any good either. Secondly, PIM came on the back of Guus. In Guus, you are talking about a coach on US$7M, chased by some of the great clubs in the world, PIM is not in this class. I said it before & I'll say it again, we were very, very lucky to get a coach of Guus's experience (Uncle Frank's legend will live long on this achievement alone). For all those complaining about PIM, let's look back to the coaches & achievements of previous Socceroos coaches. How many other coaches would have got the result in Japan, while they (Japanese had been training for weeks in preparation), most Aussies arrived 24 hours before hand. Yes it wasn't pretty, but.....
Tifosi
Guest
I think the idea was to give the lesser nations something to aim for but its probably not right. cant argue with nth korea being in it though .They did make the world cup
Tifosi
Guest
"A frustrating game to watch in the first half as possession was so often wasted. Much better 2nd half but totally lacking any cutting edge in the final third." This has been Australia's problem for as long as i remember.
AA
Guest
Job done. You lot have forgotten that at least we have 6 guaranteed minimum competitive games over the next year. That was something we could never say 10-15 years ago. ...As for last night's game, iet it go, we're onto the real stuff now, the World Cup. Let's focus on that.
AndyRoo
Roar Guru
Firstly despite his change in circumstances (it's not like he was ripping it up in the Bundsiliga) he is a better player than he was in 06 in my opinion. That doesn’t mean I think he should start in South Africa I just think he is a better all round player than he was. Seems everyone else rated him much higher in 06 where I think he was a fringe selection that filled his minor role well (worry people from set pieces when we were chasing a game) but didn’t provide anything else. I really didn’t rate him as a 90 min outfield player at all in 06 and I think he has improved since then. If we played a two striker system I wouldn’t cry if he was one of those strikers selected to start…..I would never have said that in 06 and not just because we had better cattle (Viduka). I am only defending him because he is getting slated for his performance last night when I don’t think any of the strikers available would have done better as a lone front man. He missed a few chances though but it’s a tough role especially when the attacking midfielders behind you are an 18 year old debutant, a defensive midfielder and an out of form Mile Sterjovski. If Kewell, Macdonald, Djite or Ruka were in the squad last night or available and not chosen then I would be less forgiving of his performance. But of those available if we have to play with one up front then I think Kennedy (even though he is only in his pre season) is a better choice than Thompson (who should play as AMR for the A league Roos), Griffiths, Brosque, Leckie. Scott Mcdonald not suiting the lone striker role (even though i think he holds up the ball better and runs more) Careful Dave, I got abused on here for suggesting I preferred to see Macdonald play as a lone striker than Kennedy. Overall i think against Germany, Ghana and Serbia we would be better off playing Kewell up front. If Cahill is fit I agree, if Cahill is injured (good chance) then Kewell could play in Tims spot and Macdonald up front.
Stevo
Guest
What about Chippers?? Otherwise it's pretty much the 2006 team which I thought was the only way forward given the current dearth of international qualtiy talent
David
Guest
my starting line up fo the world cup -------------------Swarts----------- --Whilkshire-Neill-Kissa-Carney -----------Culina-Grella----------------- --Brecano------Cahill-----Emmo ----------------Kewell---------- Bench Kennedy Holman Mcdonald Covic Ryh Vidosic
David
Guest
Ok people need to get this through their head playing in germany is a LOT better then playing in Japan. Of course Kenndy has got worst there were two clear sitters he had that he had that he should have put away. Arguements against Kennedy I never rated Kennedy as a starting player i think he's better off the bench like Crouch for england. Kennedy is hopeless technically and he's also quite slow he should of scored last night more then once times. Against Germany, Ghana and Serbia he isn't going to touch the ball and i reckon after last night preformce he should dropped. He has scored (6 goals in 18 app) most of his goals were against Qatar and pretty much all were headers from poor defending he wont scored at the world cup against those kindas of defences. Arguements for Kennedy Kennedy has a natural height advantage and plays well off Cahill because usually Kennedy being marked results in Cahill slipping away and scoring. He's the only proven goal score the Socceroos have at the moment with Scott Mcdonald not suiting the lone striker role (even though i think he holds up the ball better and runs more). Djit and Ruka havnt really been tested and are a bit of an unknown in terms of how that would handle a lone striker roll. As for Archie Thompson he's proven to more "hopeless" for the socceroos. Overall i think against Germany, Ghana and Serbia we would be better off playing Kewell up front.
MV Dave
Guest
A frustrating game to watch in the first half as possession was so often wasted. Much better 2nd half but totally lacking any cutting edge in the final third. The HAL boys generally did well but Sterj's international career (under Verbeek anyway) seems finished. Oar did well but too many of his crosses were of poor quality...nevertheless first up game he can be pleased. The defence wasnt tested and Culina didnt have his shooting boots on (if he has any). Pim has done what he was hired to do...qualify for both WC and AC...critics would have us believe their should have been a clause in his contract to qualify...with style! Perhaps in coming decades but this is only early days in the establishment of the Socceroos into a top 15 (consistently) footballing nation.
AndyRoo
Roar Guru
That did create space just outside the box but Sterjovski was just jogging around and Cullina doing his best but not really oppening anyone up and Oar doing well but a bit goal shy. Cullina did manage to get a fair few decent shots on goal because of that space.
DERBY COUNTY FC
Guest
Thang God somebody is talking sense.
DERBY COUNTY FC
Guest
Well marked against people 6 inches shorter than him and if he was well marked why wasn't that opening up space.
DERBY COUNTY FC
Guest
Now now.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Guest
Kennedy works better in open play where he can run into a cross. Last night was a crowded stagnant box. Somehow I can't see that being the case in the World Cup.
AndyRoo
Roar Guru
A lot of West Asian Nations. Bit Tough on Oman and Indonesia to miss out while India get through from playing in the Challenge cup and North Korea pulled out of the real draw and just played and qualified through the Challenge cup as well. That's not fair and I hope India cop some hidings in the Cup Proper so they close that loop hole.
Midfielder
Guest
Btw, the 16 qualified nations are: Qatar Iraq Saudi Arabia South Korea India (Challenge Cup Winners) North Korea (Challenge Cup Winners) Japan Bahrain Australia Kuwait United Arab Emirates Uzbekistan Syria China Iran Jordan
Midfielder
Guest
Most put the improvenment in the second to Pim's half time talk... me I think it was because we were 1 - nil up and the pressure to score was off.. Pim did as Pim always does and got us the points... I tho there were some good signs coming out of tonight.. Oar was outstanding but we must remember who he played, Wilkshire goes goes from strenght to strenght and I tho he held us together last night... The passing was good we held the ball and on a different night would have scored some more goals... maybe it is making up for some games when we were lucky to score..Tho to that Mullo played well at the back and maybe he has his head together now.. On the negative side tho Fall Over Boy is showing without Harry & Bresh around him he is not a great player... from personal experience when I plan with a top team I go well... but my form if those around me don't create space for me is no where near as good as when I am in the top team... me think this applies to Fall Over Boy as well. Honestly I tho we needed to give another striker a go up front in the last 20 mis or so was disappointed that Leckie did not get a run...Tho the backs got caught square at times and against better sides this could hurt us.. TBH the A-League Socceroos won and that is good..
NUFCMVFC
Guest
Kennedy or anyone else besides Mark Viduka is never going to excel as a lone striker, we simply don't have the strikers to suit the system, put him up front with a McDonald or someone and we may do better, even if it does come across as the British big man small man combo While not a spectacular performance, I guess it didn't need to eb as they didn't have to really push themselves, would have been good to have been a bit more clinical though All in all a good result, we have ended up finishing top of our group, not 100% sure but I think this would then help us in terms of the Asian Cup draw at the tournament
Aljay
Guest
What chance this tactic against Germany? Just check Kennedy's club career and goal scoring record where he was playing against the same players he will be up against in S.A. They will know him, have played against him and have him all figured out.
Realfootball
Guest
Could not agree more, AF. Such a wasted opportunity. As was Verbeek's appointment.