FULLTIME: Australia 4-1 Kuwait
It was not always comfortable, but the scoreline has an appearance of dominance, which may prove crucial if goal difference is a factor later on.
After Hussain Fadhel scored the opener to send Melbourne quiet, Australia fought back through the usual suspect Tim Cahill, and then the fantastic header of Massimo Luongo, who had a fine match.
The second half was again an open contest, with Kuwait doing their part. But a penalty securely taken by Mile Jedinak sealed the points, with the icing delivered in the dying moments by James Troisi. Great start for Australia.
FULLTIME: Australia 4-1 Kuwait
The time has come for Australian football to measure its contention as Asia’s finest side, as the Socceroos host Kuwait in Melbourne for the opening clash of the 2015 Asian Cup. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 8:00pm (AEDT).
It is difficult to draw parallels between this Australian team opening its continental tournament and the Brazilian side that fell in its home World Cup last year. One is a decorated and storied titan of world football, the other is Australia.
But one similarity that does run true – apart from a mutual love for gold shirts – is the upbeat rhetoric both have adopted in their bid for glory in front of an adoring home fan-base.
While Brazil’s party came crashing down in apocalyptic proportions at the hands of Germany last July, they could at least claim a steady lead-up before that fateful night in Belo Horizonte.
No such form line exists for Australia, who despite an awful last 12 months, still are talking up their chances for continental success.
The mantra of ‘no excuses’ is high on Ange Postecoglou’s agenda ahead of their opening game against Kuwait. But on inspection of the results, the excuses run aplenty. Since Postecoglou’s ascension to the manager’s job last March, he has only managed one win, that being a last-gasp survival against Saudi Arabia in London.
Results otherwise make for grim reading, including drawing with the UAE, as well as losing to Qatar and Japan in their last two starts.
Make no mistake, regardless of the words uttered before the game, the excuses will run thick and fast should the Socceroos fail to pick up three points in Melbourne.
Aside from the peerless Tim Cahill, captain Mile Jedinak and goalkeeper Mat Ryan, Postecoglou will have a battle on who to select in the remaining spots in his team. It is likely that Postecoglou will select his back four from the World Cup, namely Ivan Franjic, Matt Spiranovic, Alex Wilkinson and Jason Davidson, with Mark Milligan employed as a holding midfielder.
Further forward, Postecoglou may be tempted to start Tommy Oar and Robbie Kruse as wingers to exploit Cahill’s aerial threat. Therefore, it is likely that Jedinak will start as his team’s sole central midfielder, with Matthew Leckie or the in-form Nathan Burns to play off or alongside Cahill up front. The evergreen Marco Bresciano would serve as a handy substitute should the need arise.
Kuwait know that the hometown pressure on their opponents may yet be their biggest aid, even if the odds stack heavily against them. Apart from boasting a superior win record against Australia, Al-Azraq will take heart that points from this fixture may be crucial to their chances of progression to the next round. For a team that has failed to reach this stage since 2000, that will be their main priority.
While the team is largely Kuwaiti-based, the experience in the squad suggests they will not be fazed at Australia’s challenge. Aside from captain Nawaf al Khaldi and striker Bader el Mutawa, who both boast 100-plus caps, the danger man for the Kuwaitis is fellow forward Yousef Nasser, who has amassed 32 goals from his 55 caps. Against a defensively suspect Socceroos outfit, the visitors will have chances to spoil the home side’s party.
Victory may do little to justify the pre-tournament hype, yet anything but will surely demonstrate the innate flaws of a team looking to win their first piece of silverware since joining the confederation in 2006.
Victory against the Kuwaitis should be expected, and much will be at stake should the pressure prove too much.
James Anderson
Roar Guru
Never noticed Juric's pace. Always been aware of his physicality and neat touch, but the boy can run as well. A complete number 9 in the making, still some way to go, but he is getting there. And Nathan Burns! Two substitutions that impacted the match positively, Burns deserved a goal, and Juric worked extremely hard when we weren't in possession. Best last half hour of a match the Socceroos have played under Postecoglou, and minus the first ten minutes, it was a good display.
Alan
Roar Guru
Well they got out of trouble...my multi still alive....
Griffo
Roar Guru
Leckie still has a heavy first touch which often means play breaks down. If Burns gets more time he is going to score. His diving header would have been a nice first goal although he might be kicking himself that his second attempt at point-blank was not directed more to the right post than straight at the keeper. A good first win but opposition is only going to get tougher. Got to control the nerves at the back in the opening 15 minutes. It's nice to be playing at home though. 8-)
Athos Sirianos
Roar Guru
Mathew Leckie really impressed me tonight, that ball he gave into the box with the outside of his football was awesome! I think we are looking at a really good combination there with Leckie, Juric, Burns and Kruse.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Reading some nonsense about FFA being greedy in selling the TV rights to FoxSports & not FTA TV. Here's a NEWS FLASH... The AFC own the TV rights to the Asian Cup. The FFA has no ownership over any TV or marketing. The AFC sold the TV rights to World Sports Group. World Sports Group then has to onsell the TV rights to a broadcaster. Like most rational commercial ventures, WSG is likely to sell the TV rights o the the highest commercial bidder in each nation of the world. From the money that the WSG paid the AFC for all the TV rights, the AFC then gives the FFA (& the Kuwait FA) US$1 million TV money for tonight's match. As part of the TV deal, US$1m is paid to each competing team for every competitive match organised by the AFC.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
I was at the stadium it was full to capacity. The Stadium is not 30k for the Asian Cup since a large section on Level 2 on the West Wing has been converted to a media centre - happens at all international tournaments. Unless you were in the stadium, you would be ignorant of this. Plus there are 1.5k seats at AAMI Park are corporate boxes & corporate dining.
Stevo
Roar Rookie
Just back and what a relief after a somewhat nervous and untidy start by the Roos. Take a bow Luongo. Was everywhere and threw himself about very effectively and the Cahill-like header for the goal. Was impressed by the saves made by both keepers, especially Youssef. However we're going to be tested by better teams who can open up our defence more smartly than Kuwait. Well that's for Ange to ponder. Well done lads.
Isaac Nowroozi
Roar Guru
Luke warm performance by the Socceroos. Defense was breached too many times, and I don't think the scoreline accurately reflects the game. None the less, good to the Socceroos on a winning start and lets hope they can keep it up!
Everyone who can't afford foxtel should check out our ads on this page, links to a two week free foxtel play/go trial would certainly come in handy if you want all the games live!
slane
Guest
Was basically a sell-out mate!
jack
Guest
Doesn't make any sense -ridiculous comment -blame the FTA networks for not buying the rights and/or the FFA /AFA for selling them to Foxsports or if you like successive Governments and Parliaments for not putting the Asian Cup on the anti siphoning list
oly09
Guest
Do you know how big tournaments work? Lots of tickets are put aside for corporates so depends if they turn up. Same thing happens at the World Cup. Look at some of the empty seats in Brazil.
oly09
Guest
Asian Cup has never been on FTA letalone live.
Blame foxsports for that one...
DJW
Guest
Appalling it's not live on free to air was always live on SBS
jamesb
Guest
The game is "live" on the ABC at the moment. I wonder who is going to win the game?
Bill
Guest
Too many misplaced passes for my liking but a big improvement from Australia as the game went on. The defence needs to tighten up or it will be exposed by better teams than Kuwait and the attacking midfielders and strikers need to more careful and precise when they have the opposition defence out of position. While there were a few encouraging signs from Postocoglou's team in the later part of the first half and some parts of the second, it is still too early to claim that the team has turned the corner and are on the right track. Overall 6.5 /10
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
FULLTIME: Australia 4-1 Kuwait Australia will travel to Sydney now to face Oman on Tuesday night, while Kuwait travel to the capital, as they meet South Korea in the next Group A fixture. Of course, South Korea and Oman will meet tomorrow night in Canberra. That, and other games, will be brought to you by The Roar, so join us then! It's a great start to the Asian Cup 2015, and it's a great start for the Socceroos, as the final score from Melbourne was Australia 4-1 Kuwait FULLTIME: Australia 4-1 Kuwait
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
Good job boys. Much better second half. Bring on the competition now!
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
FULLTIME: Australia 4-1 Kuwait It was not always comfortable, but the scoreline has an appearance of dominance, which may prove crucial if goal difference is a factor later on. After Hussain Fadhel scored the opener to send Melbourne quiet, Australia fought back through the usual suspect Tim Cahill, and then the fantastic header of Massimo Luongo, who had a fine match. The second half was again an open contest, with Kuwait doing their part. But a penalty securely taken by Mile Jedinak sealed the points, with the icing delivered in the dying moments by James Troisi. Great start for Australia. FULLTIME: Australia 4-1 Kuwait