Shaken to uncertainty by a calculated China game-plan for much of the opening half, it took a fresh second-half attitude and two trademark big-tournament goals from Tim Cahill to propel the Socceroos into the Asian Cup semi-finals in Newcastle next week.
This was a very stern test that Ange Postecoglou and his men appeared to be failing early, so it was a credit they were able to stay composed and pass the test in the second half.
For 30 minutes it looked like they didn’t have an answer to Alain Perrin’s shrewd strategy.
Allowing the ball to come out of the back through returning skipper Mile Jedinak, China sat off and waited for the ball the enter their half, then applied an instant press as soon as Jedinak passed, blocking the passing avenues, intercepting and countering swiftly through the speed of Wu Lei, playing alone up top.
Congesting the midfield and playing a compact bank of two lines, this was tough work for the Socceroos.
There was little more then 25 to 30 metres between the front and back of China’s formation, and by not dropping off to their 18-yard box they were able to squeeze the Roos, and threaten through rapid transition.
Postecoglou went for Mark Bresciano alongside Jedinak and Massimo Luongo in central midfield, but neither Bresciano or Luongo could get on the ball between the defensive and midfield line. There was absolutely no space.
The supply to Cahill, Robbie Kruse and Matt Leckie was non existent. Jedinak was having a nightmare, trying to break the shackles by spraying long diagonal balls to the flanks. Unfortunately his passing range let him down, whether short or long.
Fortunately for the Socceroos Trent Sainsbury stepped up in the absence of Matt Spiranovic. Asked to take the defensive leader role, he took the responsibility of getting his foot on the ball, carrying it forward and becoming the distributor out of the back.
With China not applying a high press, and only Lei up top, Sainsbury had space and used it effectively, taking the ball-carry and distribution burden off Jedinak.
What was equally impressive from Sainsbury was the way he covered Lei’s incredible speed on the counter, and timed his defensive interventions beautifully. This was a performance of maturity from a calm and cultured ball-playing defender who is having an outstanding tournament.
Cahill has been more quiet. With Postecoglou finding eight other scorers in the opening two games, Cahill has been used sparingly by his standards, replaced early in the opening two games and coming on late in the Korea game, where he appeared frustrated.
Even in the first half last night he was often isolated and would no doubt have gone to the dressing room exasperated, not that he showed it.
But in the second half Cahill exploded.
While many would have gone down after a head-clash with Zheng Zhi at a corner, Cahill stayed on his feet, and when a header came back in from the edge of the box, he found an inch of space and seamlessly and instinctively delivered an outrageous overhead kick across Wang Dalei.
The outrageousness wasn’t in the execution but in the fact that he continues to deliver in big games, when his nation needs him most, and he did it again moments later when Jason Davidson delivered a cross from the left that few others would have monstered with such ruthlessness.
Like many, China and Perrin would have planned for a long time how to limit Cahill’s influence, and in truth they did a great job the first 45 minutes. But one moment where Zhi was left on the ground from a head clash gave Cahill the space and changed everything.
What changed in the second for the Roos was a preparedness to move the ball quicker and get bodies moving in forward motion.
Rather than the laboured distribution of Jedinak to static bodies in the first half, which the imposing Cai Huikang controlled, there was a swiftness to the Roos’ play after the break.
Whether the Socceroos will be able to extricate themselves from a similar situation if they are to meet the higher quality of Japan in the semi-finals remains to be seen, but what’s clear is that with Cahill’s one-touch finishing the Roos are invariably a sniff.
mike j
Guest
Context, context, context. How many easy opportunities did he spray into the nosebleed section? You can start with 4 or 5 from the China game. Statistically, any idiot can score a few goals if you give them enough opportunities. You list Bresciano's odd goal against football powerhouses like New Zealand, Bahrain and Jordan, and even pad it out with crosses and spilled saves from which his betters score. You don't think that list should be a bit longer for a designated spot kicker after 15 years of internationals in OCEANIA? Anyone who needs to characterise others as 'trolls' to protect a weak argument doesn't really deserve a reply, but there you go.
James Anderson
Roar Guru
Have a look at the team who played UAE in the 0-0 draw last year. The team that works the best with Ange's attacking style is two creative players ahead of a hard, defensive minded, midfielder. Luongo also, at this stage of his career, needs another playmaker alongside him.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Timmy Cahill is an Aussie Sporting icon, the guy just loves the big stage. If the Roos are to go all the way it will be off the back of TC. The UAE will be riding high and will be hard to beat. The Roos need to be very good. I like Ange as a coach and think he's doing a good job.
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
That's why you brought counter attacking into the argument - just to confuse things hey? Makes total sense... "However, I see the issue being our technical ability not our fitness as our problem." You still don't get it...despite all my efforts. :( I'm not disagreeing with what Ange is trying to achieve or what you feel is best for the Roos. I'm questioning whether playing this style of football can be pulled off unless you have superior fitness to compliment it in defence like Barca has. Well and truly I am done trying to explain that to you.
punter
Guest
Rick, its not that difficult to follow, my story doesn't change. If all the Socceroos needs to get up to levels of Barcleona is super fitness, I'd be a happy boy, that is not that difficult to attain. However, I see the issue being our technical ability not our fitness as our problem.
Uncle Junior
Guest
In China, the TV ratings continue to break all previous viewing records. The total reach - including regional broadcasters - hitting 95 million for China vs Australia. Total reach means the number of people who watched the quarter final at any time. The average viewing audience on CCTV-5 was 27 million. http://www.afcasiancup.com/news/en/quarter-final-attracts-record-tv-viewers/1mxwq5ehut9051q4skvsiefzir?
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
Sometimes 'constructive criticism' and 'undermining those efforts' are not always the same thing. Your first and second point though I agree with entirely. Nice chatting with you.
Uncle Junior
Guest
The CEO of the Gemba Group (highly regarded sports consultancy in Australia) said that the average TV audience for China vs Australia in China was 27 million, with a peak of 32 million. And China uses people-meters to gather TV viewing numbers, just the same as OzTAM uses in Australia. The Chinese data is considered "verifiable data", just like data from Australia, USA, most of Europe, etc. And, according to the CEO of the local organising committee of the Asian cup, over all matches at the 2015 Asian Cup, the cumulative Tv ratings in China is just under 100 million, with the 3 biggest tournament matches still to play.
Uncle Junior
Guest
I'm sure Wikipedia has an entry for the Golden Rule of football coaching: "take it one game at a time". Australia has to only worry about UAE and has absolutely nothing to fear from Japan. And if we are not grouped with Japan for the 2018 Qualifiers, it will be 4 years or longer before Australia needs to worry about what Japan will threaten during a competitive match.
The Bear
Guest
Well at least we have an understanding. To be fair we are all guesstimating Ange's (& FFAs) master plan. But what I can appreciate is Psychology 101... You are what you think you are, within certain reasonable limits. Or as some legend of Aussie Motorsport (?Brock) put it "bite off more than you can chew and chew like buggery". Ange is giving this footballing nation wings, and we can either sit here and fret and undermine those efforts, or we can stare and wonder at the boldness (and madness?) of it.
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
"I understand taking the more cautious say negative approach. But it’s not going to go that way. This team is learning on the job, the training wheels are off. For good now it seems." I guess that's the issue right there for me. I just don't agree with that principal at all. I also don't agree with this whole 'big picture' thing. This tournament is ours to win 'now' and it really doesn't get much bigger for the Roos. To suggest we at this stage of our nations development can mix it with the big boys in a few years...well I think this is more a pipe dream for some here. I'm a realist and like most here...believe we cab do better. However, you can not implement a Barca or Real plan in it's entirety without the cattle. Due to our population size and most of the best sporting talent being taken up in other sports, I just don't see how anyone can make a logical argument for this.
The Bear
Guest
Nice to be addressed but you need not seek my approval, Mr Disneck. By the time we play meaningful games against higher " quality " teams I suspect we shall have a great base to match them on the field. It's a big picture thing. I understand taking the more cautious say negative approach. But it's not going to go that way. This team is learning on the job, the training wheels are off. For good now it seems. Now I look forward to your input as we all track the roos' progress next week and beyond.
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
Punter Okay, I'm going to try and understand what your story is today, because it tends to change a lot. Firstly, I said the biggest issue at the moment for the Roos is they are getting caught far too much on the counter attack. Cahill himself has said the Roos are not fit enough in the past. Now this was 12-months ago mind you and they could have addressed this, but they may not have either, which looks more likely to me. Using these two bits of info and from what I'm seeing on the pitch, I believe they are not getting back into position quick enough for all the reasons I have said above. Now you commented on this by saying it's not the physical component we are lacking in, but the technical side. My next comment was indeed in reference to Barca? Why do you think I used Barca Punter? Because you have already told me this in the past, but perhaps you don't remember... I used Pep's game plan he brought to Barca in 2008, which revolves around the 6-second rule. I even linked this for you to see. Why did you think I used the 6-second rule Punter? Because it was brilliant and is still employed to some extent in their game play today, despite Pep moving on. Do you know why Pep came up with the 6-second rule? Because despite Barca playing ticka tak football for years, Messi was not happy with what the team was doing when they didn't have the ball. Barca have always played a high skill game, but what Pep brought as a result of Messi's concerns was this vital component, which resulted in one of the best teams to play European football. Go read this: https://footballxtra.wordpress.com/tag/fitness/ Seriously, I want you to read all of that and don't think I'm BS you anymore. I would like to think you can appreciate to some extent the time I have put in to try and educate you on this matter by the length of my posts. Look at the paragraph just under Pep's name. It discusses this very principal. It also talks about the most important (and under rated) facet of Barca's game plan - that being "work rate'. Do you know what a high 'work rate' requires Punter'? That's right, superior fitness to your opposition, which is why Ange trying to play the technical side of Barca's game plan is not going to work if you don't have a high 'work rate' and thus superior fitness. Don't believe me, go read the article yourself. What you then did after I tried to explain this was bring 'counter attacking football' into the argument. You tried to use this to say that no amount of running power can stop this. To be honest, I have no idea why you brought this up. But I think you will admit that it has been a mass failure when you look at the stats I have provided, along with your last comment to me. Now of course you can say that the Roos do indeed have the fitness levels to carry out such a plan to save face, but we both know that is not what you have been saying. Secondly, I doubt anyone else will be reading this now but us two. I don't think you truly understand how games plans are evolved and more importantly implemented. You will one day learn that Barca's game plan of super fitness at it's core allows for silky smooth, high risk attacking football, whilst minimising the risk of an effective counter attack. I agree with you 100 per cent that Ange should be taking facets of Barca's game. But they can not pull this off against the better teams without the defensive structures in place and it is for this very reason I think they need to throttle back attack some what. Bear - Is that a good enough analysis for you?
punter
Guest
Rick, but Ange is trying to play the Barcelona style, the difference is not physical or fitness, it's the technical ability,
Fadida
Guest
One game had changed your opinion Qantas? Fickle man!! To think that us lesser mortals were calling for Sainsbury to replace Conflakes back in the dark ages :)
Football_Wunderkind
Roar Pro
Who has been knocking Cahill? He is the one player that avoids any kind of criticism. If you can link me any article knocking Cahill... I would appreciate it.
Football_Wunderkind
Roar Pro
Hyperbole, Hyperbole, Hyperbole. 6 Months ago he was one of our best at the WC 2014. I don't know why I log into sports forums anymore. The comments border on bi-polar disorder. 1 quiet game = "drop him, he's a liability!!!" Bresciano has a hi-light reel and big game moments list second only to Cahill and probably only a close 2nd. ***2004 - Bending free kick/winner against NZ in WC qualifier in Adelaide. 2005 - Stunning goal against Jamaica in a friendly. ***2005 - Goal against Uruguay in Sydney to level the tie and help send us to Germany WC 2006. ***2006 - Cross for Harry Kewell goal against Croatia. ***2006 - Stunning bicycle kick against Bahrain in Asian Cup qualifier. 2008 - 3rd goal in WC qualifier against Qatar ***2008 - 93rd minute winner vs Bahrain in away WC qualifier. ***2010 - Dipping direct free kick against Ghana in WC causes keeper to spill and Holman to score. 2012 - Stunning volley from 25 yards against Scotland in a friendly. 2013 - 1st goal in WC qualifier against Jordan. ***2013 - Brilliant cross for Josh Kennedy to head in the goal that sends us to WC2014. I know I am talking to an obvious troll but HAVE SOME RESPECT for a great player who can and is still producing great moments.
newy
Guest
dino well said all true football fans would agree with that comment
newy
Guest
hahah jonno great comment if was 5 or 6 years ago lol
Midfielder
Guest
The Wookie a former AFL poster on this site has just updated his excellent Asian Cup Spread Shett for anyone interested on ratings and crowds... http://www.footyindustry.com/files/ffa/media/2015AsianCup.png