On a night where records were re-written, the Socceroos showed their true colours with a great team performance against a rather lacklustre Jordan outfit at Etihad (Docklands) Stadium, Melbourne.
Australia completed their most convincing match in recent times, overwhelming the frustrated and at times distracted Jordan team, demolishing them 4-0 in front of a 43, 785 strong crowd.
The match included the breaking of an international goal scoring drought to Socceroos’ skipper Lucas Neill, scoring his first goal in 91 appearances.
Heading into the game, the Socceroos were in a must win situation in order to qualify for Brazil in 2014.
Jordan was their first of two assignments at home, with Iraq being their second in Sydney on Tuesday week. The Socceroos had just saw off Japan a week prior, with Japan securing a spot in Brazil, with a draw in Saitama.
Jordan, meanwhile, were no ‘mugs’, according to Socceroo’s skipper Neill, as they had proved with home victories against the two of the top ranked teams in Asia, Japan (32) and Australia (47), as of Thursday’s release of the FIFA world rankings.
Adding to the challenge for Holger Osieck’s men was Jordan’s coach Adnan Hamad’s recent coaching record against Australia. He had achieved three consecutive victories, including two with his former employers and home nation, Iraq.
Australia completed their most convincing match in recent times, overwhelming the frustrated and at times distracted Jordan team, demolishing them 4-0 in front of a 43 785 strong crowd.
Not since February 2012, 4-2 result against Saudi Arabia in Melbourne, had the Socceroos last scored four goals against an opponent in the World Cup Qualifying matches.
The Socceroos, sticking with the same line-up against Japan in Saitama, had their fair share of rusty moments in the first half, but no doubt deserved to go into the sheds at half time with a 1-0 lead.
Brilliant lead up play between Luke Wilkshire and Robbie Kruse led to the Socceroos first goal, as Jordan fell asleep expecting the referee’s whistle as Wilkshire was fouled.
Robbie seized the referee’s invitation of playing adantage and Kruse-d towards the by-line and sent in a low cross which was met by Marco Bresciano who calmly slotted the ball into the back of the net from six yards out, after watching his last effort, following a Brett Holman parried shot, sail wide two minutes prior.
Bresciano celebrated scoring his thirteenth international goal in front of his hometown crowd with his trademark statue stance in the 15th minute.
Following the break, both teams took a while to get started, with Australia looking the more likely to add to the scoreboard.
While Jordan started to build some pressure which became undone as they let the pressure valve go and allowed the Socceroos to dominate the rest of the match, with Socceroo’s custodian Mark Schwarzer barely warming up his gloves.
With the game drifting in and out of flat patches, Osieck made his move substituting the lively Tommy Oar for slippery customer Archie Thompson. Archie strode onto the Etihad surface to a raucous reception with the crowd accepting their Melbourne Victory foundation member.
Archie’s introduction on the hour mark proved to be the catalyst for the Socceroos as they applied the torch to Jordan’s defence.
Archie was involved in a graceful attacking raid, with Kruse yet again providing the assistance, and without a doubt in the world, Archie’s good mate Timmy Cahill rose up and duly nodded home making it 2-0.
In the process, Timmy equalled Archie (28), who was second on the all time goal scoring sheet for the Australian side by one goal, behind Damian Mori (29).
Kruse finally got a goal he so willingly deserved with fifteen minutes left on the clock, Kruse received the ball outside the box from Wilkshire and weaved his way in via a nut-meg on a Jordan defender, a hit a low shot through Jordan goalkeeper, Amer Shafi.
Kruse deflected the praise for his own individual performance, including the goal and two assists, saying post-match that he is just another ‘cog in the team’.”
Kruse breaking his own international goal scoring drought, scoring for the first time in almost two years.
But the best was yet to come.
In the final minutes of normal time, Wilkshire sent in a deep floating corner kick headed towards the goalmouth by Cahill, and then substitute Tommy Rogic, providing first of many assists for the Socceroos, to the far post where none other than skipper, Neill, himself headed home.
“Relief… it’s been coming for a while – 91 games. Great way to cap off a great performance. Let’s hope there’s more to come.” Neill said, with his header putting the cherry on top of the Socceroos’ dominant performance by breaking the drought of all goal scoring droughts and scoring, what is probably the longest international drought by an outfield player, in his 91st appearance for the Socceroos.
Jordan all match were plagued with inconsistent play, rash shots that rarely tested goalkeeper Schwarzer and ill discipline which eventually earned centre back Anas Bani Yaseen a yellow card after protesting towards the referee, which could only point towards the frustration felt by the Jordan camp.
Clearly the most convincing performance by Osieck’s men in this stage of World Cup Qualifying so far, finally the dominance was reflected on the scoreboard.
Australia 4 Jordan 0.
With this result, the Socceroos take one giant leap towards their dream of a third consecutive World Cup, and sit comfortably in the second automatic qualifying spot of the group.
“We’ll savour [the result] tonight, then tomorrow we’ll switch our attention to Iraq.” Neill said, referring to the last game against Iraq on Tuesday up in Sydney to confirm their spot in Brazil 2014.
However, for Jordan their dismal performance leaves them with it all to do. They must win the final game against Oman in Amman next week, in order to qualify for Brazil albeit not automatically but via the playoffs.
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