With next year’s world cup being held in a country featuring the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue, it was perhaps most fitting that a bloke nicknamed Jesus came off the bench to redeem what had often looked a statuesque qualifier and qualification campaign.
Indeed, it was a serious dose of redemption for not only the goal-scorer in Josh Kennedy, but for the man who brought him off the bench a few minutes earlier.
When the often maligned Holger Osieck introduced Kennedy for Tim Cahill, the man who had rescued the manager and his nation so often throughout this campaign and others, there was no hiding Cahill’s disappointment.
If it failed to come off and the result didn’t go Australia’s way, questions would undoubtedly have been asked of Osieck for taking off the man who has often been his go-to.
But Osieck was vindicated only a few minutes later when Mark Bresciano, after a neat build up down the right, drove into the rare glimmer of midfield space that presented, and, despite the calls for him to shoot, dinked a ball towards he penalty spot, where the unmarked Kennedy was on hand to power a header past Noor Sabri.
It was also redemption for a man, in Kennedy, who had spent over a year out of the Socceroos fold recovering from injury.
Bidding his time on the bench for almost the entire three games against Japan, Jordan and Iraq, it was some impact when his number was eventually called.
It typified the strength of mentality that pervades a group that were able to recover, in the final straight, a campaign that was often looked lost.
In many ways, this match summed up the entire campaign; a struggle, followed by late glory.
The winning goal was a huge relief not only for Osieck and his men, who has struggled to break down a very well-organised and spirited Iraq, but for the 80,000 odd fans in the stadium, and millions watching on the box who endured more than 80 minutes of tension.
The credit for that must go to Iraq and their manager Vladimir Petrovic, who put up a resilient performance and very formidable barrier.
Petrovic may have had his team decimated by the retirements of Younes Mahmoud and Nashat Akram, but it didn’t have as detrimental effect on his starting 11 plans as many imagined, with only four changes to the team that lost to a late Shinji Okazaki goal in Doha last week.
One of those was forced, with Alaa Abdul Zahra suspended after receiving two yellow cards.
It wasn’t so much the personnel that made the difference for Iraq but the tactics.
Petrovic had his side perfectly drilled to nullify the Roos, setting them up in a suffocating system that was essentially a 4-5-1, featuring a tight three-man central midfield that impressed in both defence and with the ball.
While the impressive Khaldoon Ibrahim was the deeper of the three, he worked closely with both Saif Salman and Saad Abdulameer to deny the likes of Brett Holman, Bresciano and Mark Milligan space.
When they had the ball, Khaldoon and Salman showed plenty of quality, keeping it for periods, further frustrating the Roos.
It might have been entirely different had Sabri not produced a sharp save to his right in the second minute to deny Cahill.
Had that Cahill chance gone in, or another one or two closer to half time, then it would have been a different game. Iraq would have been forced to come out and the Socceroos would have had more space.
But the frustration grew into the second half.
Particularly struggling to find any space was Brett Holman, more suited to transition play than creating something against a packed nine-man defensive blanket.
Perhaps against his usual conservative approach, Osieck went for it and introduced the more creative technician in Tom Rogic, giving him half an hour to work his stuff.
In some ways, this was redemption for the many who had called for Rogic to get more game-time.
Within the space of two minutes, Rogic had had the ball at his feet three times, getting into solution positions each time. While the final product was lacking, it was an insight into his potential, and his time will undoubtedly come.
Australia will certainly hope it comes soon. While Osieck deserves credit for manoeuvring the Socceroos through the final three qualifiers, getting more things right than wrong, including his substitution of Cahill, there’s undoubtedly much improvement required in the build-up to Brazil.
Otherwise, we might be looking for a little more intervention from top of Rio’s Corcovado mountain next June.
[roar_cat_gal]
PeterK
Guest
Fully agree. I don't think Cahill was angry at Osiek though, I think he was angry that he wasn't getting the service -- which was largely due to the opposition's tactics. The coach could see that the opposition had created the bottleneck and sought to break that bottleneck by a change of personnel. Well done to the coach. And definitely well-done to the players too for gritting their teeth and getting the job done.
dasilva
Guest
AGO74 I was talking in the hypothetical situation where we didn't beat Iraq
AGO74
Guest
we had three wins actually. and four draws.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
@Martyn50 If you're playing the "imagine if" game, why not ... ... imagine the euphoria if Matty McKay hadn't handballed in the 90' in Saitama & the match in Sydney would have been a dead rubber? PS: Even if the match had ended in a draw, AUS would have finishes 2nd on the table, ahead of JOR.
Bondy
Guest
I'll just make the point the life of a professional footballer I.E Mitch Langerak the former Mlb Vcty goalkeeper has been at Dortmund for 2 years now and is on the bench for Dortmund and the National Team too, he's not played regular football for three years now, its a challenging life. I think the words are patience and perseverance.
Kasey
Guest
I saw a few plonkers in their WSW jerseys. I don’t get that. Why would you wear club colours to a national game? n00bs?
Punter
Guest
Apparently, it's not even a player, but an Italian kit maker Marcon.
Martyn50
Roar Rookie
If the experience shone so much why did it take nearly 90 mins to come through against a "B" grade Irag side playing at home. Not a great look. Imagine the out cry had it gone the full 90 mins and finished in a draw and Australia had to travel overseas.
Cameron
Roar Guru
Fuss, It looks, like it won't be Massimo Ambrosini. http://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/fiorentina/transfer-talk/news/agent-ambrosini-nearing-fiorentina-move_89718.html
Jukes
Guest
I cant wait until the A-league season starts. If last year was any good imagine how good the 2013/14 season will be.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Only 24 hours after the final whistle, the good news off-the-park intensifies: "Socceroos rake in millions for FFA" http://www.theage.com.au/sport/football/socceroos-rake-in-millions-for-ffa-20130619-2ojdg.html
Griffo
Roar Guru
Schwarzer had one ball in the second half nearly surprise him by bobbling up a bit from a divet. I think one of the glaring failures of our World Cup bid was not showcasing the legacy of the tournament for football in this country by having football-only stadia built. Don't know if the government said 'we'll give you $46million only if you don't ask for new stadiums' but football only facilities are going to be required in the future if we want to move outside of our summer pigeon hole for a 10 month season on quality playing surfaces. Only then might we never see a cow paddock for a WCQ again. This cultural propensity to share facilities might cost us one day.
Griffo
Roar Guru
A full house for a Sydney derby making some noise during a regular A-League round would echo around the country...
Griffo
Roar Guru
It would be too much to hope for to see a Socceroos WCQ in Newcaslte. Can't wait for the Asian Cup.
Bondy
Guest
AR Your dead right The Socceroos are for everyone I hope you had an enjoyable evening, although I find it very strange you post here your a rational person .
Bondy
Guest
Wisey just off topic I don't think the MLS is all that better than the HAL they just have quicker players around the park " basically can run faster ,don't mention T Henry ",they have a similar game plan and mentality to the HAL very similar leagues.
fadida
Guest
Fantastic! What an A-league season awaits :)
Punter
Guest
This is huge, Ambrosini is big, the Del Piero affect. Adelaide also announcing the signing of 2 Spanish guys next week. Newcastle after Nathan Burns, Melb Heart still after marquee striker & of course Karagounis is a huge rumour. What a season.
Bondy
Guest
Australia could open the FIFA World Cup with Brasil in Rio "pending now only on pots drawn 8 pots x 4 nations" the dream could finally be a reality, imagine what tv audience that would penetrate globally ,astonishing. I hope those Iraqi kiddies get a bit of a go in the future and not be interfered with by their F.A or their Government and hopefully the poor kids will get to play in their own country soon.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
To be honest, I was impressed with Stadium Australia. I'd been there in 2000 to watch athletics, but had never attended a football match at the stadium. It is far better than the MCG or Docklands stadium. If I were FFA, I would use the following stadiums only, based on likely crowds: * 50-80k: Stadium Australia * 30-50k: Lang Park * 20-30k: AAMI Park; Hunter Stadium * 10-20k: NIB stadium, Hindmarsh, Parramatta