A 94th minute winner from Brett Holman ended an unconvincing win in the Socceroos’ farewell match against New Zealand. Some questions were answered, many left unanswered, and new questions raised in the 2-1 win.
The Socceroos were fortunate to be in the game early, defending on the edge of the area and allowing the Kiwis to dictate play.
After Wellington Phoenix midfield dynamo Tim Brown struck one wide, Middlesbrough striker Chris Killen didn’t make the same mistake minutes later.
The ball inside the area looked like it wouldn’t cause harm but the lack of height in the centre of defence was exposed with Craig Moore lunging at air, and Mark Milligan slow to react as Killen got in and behind him to open the scoring.
Following was a horror tackle from Vince Grella.
Lunging, sliding and dangerous, the Rovers man should have been off the pitch for his horrendous challenge on Leo Bertos. For a man who late last week was concerned that the Kiwi tacklers would fly in, Grella produced a shocking late tackle that should have seen red – even in a friendly.
Moments later, Tim Cahill put in a reckless challenge, catching Bertos high on the shin and forcing him off the pitch.
The lack of adventure was evident, so to the intensity and any functionality in the attacking third for Australia. Play was too often broken down 30 yards from goal. Milligan struggled, so to did the underdone trio of Mark Bresciano, Jason Culina and Vince Grella in the centre of the park.
In the second half, Milligan pushed further up the park, Carl Valeri provided Culina with a companion in the middle which brought Dario Vidosic into the game on the left.
Moore’s replacement, new Melbourne Heart recruit Michael Beauchamp, was a major player in the centre of defence. No longer was the defending so deep and his height was critical when aerial balls came into the area.
Culina’s adventurous run forward resulted in a fortunate ricochet for Vidosic, whose first international goal was a superb volleying finish into the ground and into the corner of the net.
The winner was perhaps the best forward interplay by the Socceroos with the exchange of passes leading to Valeri chipping a clever pass for Holman to apply a clinical finish.
But questions remain: how we can rely so heavily on Harry Kewell up front when he has barely played in 2010? Does Craig Moore start in the centre with Lucas Neill or are our World Cup opponents too tall for the both of them? Does this mean we take Michael Beauchamp?
How concerned should we be by our underdone players – Bresciano, Kewell, Grella and Culina?
Regardless, the Socceroos need time to gel and regain fitness. But time is quickly running out.
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