Asian Cup 2015: For once Socceroos start well to set up dream final

More clinical than pretty against a United Arab Emirates that came back from a poor start to control large parts of the game, the Soocceroos finally got their quick start to set up a dream final on Saturday night against South Korea.

On the back foot for significant parts of the game as Omar Abdulrahman tried everything to get the Emirates back in it, the Roos did well to stay composed and limit the spirited UAE to few chances.

On that front, this was a job well done, even if much of it was without the ball.

A trend in this tournament has been the patient starts from the Socceroos and the flying starts from the UAE, but here it was the complete opposite, with the Roos bursting out of the blocks in the opening 15 minutes.

As much as this was an up-tempo start from the Socceroos, who out-powered the smaller UAE side, it looked like the UAE weren’t quite ready for it.

Mahdi Ali’s changed his formation from the 4-4-1-1 of the semi-final win against Japan to a 4-2-3-1, and the Socceroos preyed on this in the early exchanges, starting at a high tempo and sending the two fullbacks forward.

Far from sit back behind the ball, as many had predicted, the evidence was that the Emirates only wanted to defend with six players, the back four and the two holding midfielders.

With Omar Abdulrahman starting on the right, Ali Mabkhout on the left, and Mohamed Abdulrahman tucked in behind Ahmed Khalil, this was an attacking formation, but they didn’t appear to have the legs or the will to get back and defend.

The Socceroos exposed this early, sending Ivan Franjic in particular forward down the right.

It was from this avenue that the Roos were able to force the opening two goals, the first from a set piece when two defenders were attracted to Tim Cahill, leaving the equally impressive leaper Trent Sainsbury one on one.

Sainsbury is forging quite the reputation at the this tournament for his calm coverage, ability to carry the ball forward and play, but he is also proving quite the menace at set pieces. Indeed, Set-Piece-Sainsbury.

The avenue for the Socceroos second was again down the right. Clearly they appeared to be targeting Walid Abbas and the UAE’s lack of defensive run from the high-wide players.

Mat Leckie was drifting infield and enjoying the significant space between the Emirates back six and front four, and linking nicely with Robbie Kruse. The Roos ball movement was crisp and with bodies in forward-motion the Emirates were powerless to stop Jason Davidson grabbing the second.

It took the Emirates half the first half to settle down, and the impetus for the change was Ali reverting to a more familiar look up-front, with Mabkhout swapping with Mohamed Abdulrahman and getting closer to Khalil.

They were starting to look impressive, with the verticality and speed of Khalill and Mabkhout stretching and threatening the Roos. Abdulrahman was starting to get his foot on the ball more regularly and looking to find that killer straight ball to either Mabkhout or Khalil.

The Roos’ defence was being tested and in the main stood up well.

On one occasion, on 40 minutes, Abdulrahman drifted infield from the right on a sublime run past three or four Roos, and clipped a delightful ball in behind Franjic for Khalil. Fortunately for the Socceroos, the right back got a toe on it as he turned.

The tracking of runs and coverage on the ground is an improved feature of Ange Postecoglou’s team. The tactics were clear from Ali. He sensed the Socceroos weakness was their defence and gambled by leaving four attackers up front. It backfired in the early exchanges, but as his side settled down and started to control possession it meant there was a threat.

As usual for the Emirates, there was lots of interchanging of positions between the front four, making it difficult for the Roos defence to stay organised. The pattern continued in the early part of the second half with Abdulrahman’s influence growing. The Roos midfield was starting to flag and Postecoglou had to react.

His decision to freshen up his midfield and replace Mark Milligan with Matt McKay proved a good one, with the Brisbane Roar midfielder adding some calm, quick, one-touch football and getting close to Abdulrahman every time he touched it, keeping him away on goal.

After this the playmaker’s influence reduced and the Roos looked a little more in control.  

After playing 120 minutes in their quarter final, a day after the Socceroos, there’s little doubt the Emirates were running on empty. The Socceroos tried to counter-attack, but the Emirates defended with real desperation and commitment.

It summed up their tournament. Ali has done a terrific job and this is a team to watch during the next World Cup qualifying phase.

As for the Socceroos, this was a clinical and professional job more than a flowing performance, and it was great to see the defensive structure stand up to the test from the UAE attack. Mat Ryan’s lack of saves told a tale.

Korea’s discipline has been a feature of their run to the final and the Socceroos will need to match them in this area on Saturday, so from that perspective this was a very good warm-up.