Game over in Amman and Australia slip off the top of Group B from an un-fancied but determined Jordan.
They win 2-0, and every bit of it was deserved! Jordan go top of Group B, following a penalty in the opening 30 seconds of the second half from Hasan Abdel Fatah, and then in the dying moments of normal time, it was a goal to win it from my man of the match, Hamsa Aldaradreh.
Special night for Jordanian football, while the Australians need to lick their wounds and prepare for next month’s visit of Kyrgyzstan in Canberra.
The good news for Australia is they have negotiated three tough away games, and can look forward to facing Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Jordan on home soil.
Final score:
Jordan – 2
Australia – 0
Australia face their toughest test in the second round of World Cup qualification, as they travel to Amman to face fellow Group B highflyers Jordan. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 12:45am (AEDT).
So far, so good, as Australia have lived up to their billing as Asian Cup champions with tricky trips to Central Asia negotiated, plus a predictable mauling of Bangladesh.
Yet if any game is to challenge the Socceroos, it is a trip to Amman, where the Socceroos lost on their last and only visit.
A win for either side is likely to see them progress to the third round, with third-placed Kyrgyzstan not expected to mount a challenge to either side. But having lost last time in Jordan, Australia go with sufficient motive to reassert their champion status, while Jordan will look to a partisan home crowd to throw the Socceroos off.
Unlike the previous three teams to have faced Australia, Jordan will not be phased by the challenge, which may alter Ange Postecoglou’s mindset, albeit not his team.
Having deputised for the injured Mat Ryan last month, Adam Federici is expected to be retained. Of intrigue will be how defensive Postecoglou chooses to be, with Mark Milligan possibly partnered by a more subverted Aaron Mooy following the return of Ballon d’Or nominee Massimo Luongo.
In attack, Tim Cahill and Matthew Leckie will likely be up front, with the focus on exploiting Jordan through Luongo’s midfield bursts.
Another key component in Jordan’s favour is their more experienced side, with five of their number possessing more than 50 caps, including centurion goalkeeper and captain Amer Shafi. Yet the real emphasis for any upset will come from midfielder Abdallah Deeb, who has 23 goals from his 79 caps.
Width will come from Baha Abdel-Rahman, while Jordan will hope either Odai Al-Saify or Hamza Al-Dardour can bely their relatively poor strike rate with a contribution.
While odds-on favourites, this is the game Australia can try a few things against competitive opposition, with lost points not meaning much in the grander scheme of things. With a bye coming on the following matchday, a win for Australia will all but assure their progress from Group B.
RBBAnonymous
Guest
I am not sure why people are surprised by this result. Playing away from home is always a difficult prospect especially against a team that provides such a hostile and intimidating environment. Can we beat Jordan away from home, sure we can, but International football these days you can never count any games as a certainty. This is because football is so global and players from all nations are making their way to good leagues. The gaps between nations is narrowing all the time and the days of blow out results are getting smaller and smaller. Its not a great result for us, but its certainly no disaster. We are more than on track to get to the next World Cup in Russia.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Welcome to International Football! In the past 6 hours: Germany lost away to Ireland in a Euro Qualifier. Argentina were beaten at home by Ecuador in a World Cup Qualifier. Brasil were beaten away by Chile in a World Cup Qualifier. Brasil has never, in the history of World Cup football, lost an opening WC qualifying match. This is International Football!
Tom Baulch
Roar Guru
How do we get beat by Jordan?
JR Salazar
Guest
Thrown game. There is a chance that this will go down to the final match with Jordan for top spot. Ange's position will be at a crossroads if that is the case. Kyrgyzstan drew with Jordan in Amman earlier this year. This performance could be a determining factor as to whether or not Ange remains as the gaffer of the Roos.
SpongeBob
Guest
Well, that's embarrassing
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
Thanks for your company. Tough night for the Socceroos, but they have a bye in a few days, as Jordan can extend their lead in Group B with a win over Tajikistan in Irbid in a few days. Australia next face Kyrgyzstan in Canberra. The good news is they have negotiated three tough away games, and can look forward to facing Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Jordan on home soil. At fulltime in Amman, it finished Jordan 2-0 Australia Good morning!
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
FULLTIME: Jordan 2-0 Australia Game over in Amman, and Australia slip off the top of Group B from an unfancied but determined Jordan! They win 2-0, and every bit of it was deserved! Jordan go top of Group B, following a penalty in the opening 30 seconds of the second half from Hasan Abdel Fatah, and then in the dying moments of normal time, it was a goal to win it from my man of the match, Hamsa Aldaradreh. Special night for Jordanian football, while Australia need to lick its wounds and prepare for next month's visit of Kyrgyzstan in Canberra. Here is the table for Group B at fulltime. Look away Australian fans: Jordan (P4, 10pts, +8) Australia (P4, 9pts, +7) Kyrgyzstan (P4, 4pts, 0) Tajikistan (P4, 4pts, -4) Bangladesh (P4, 1pt, -11)
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
90+4: Cahill now with a penalty appeal, which is knocked back. Cahill's keeps his arms afloat, but it looks a legitimate challenge there. Jordan 2-0 Australia
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'90+2: Cahill gets a header over the top, but not before Al Basha gets the final touch for a corner, and gives the former Evertonian a mouthful. Time running out now for the Socceroos, an Al-Mardi encourages the crowd to keep the vocals up. Jordan 2-0 Australia
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'90: Final change for Jordan, as Mahmoud Al-Mardi is on. The boilover is only brief, the big boilover is the result. Read it Australian fans - Asian qualification was never meant to be easy. This is just proof. Jordan 2-0 Australia
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'87: Jordan will take the lead in Group B, and with Jordan having a game against Tajikistan in neighbouring Irbid in a few days time, they should expect to extend their lead. Double substitution now for the home side, as Th'aar Bawab and Sharif Al-Nawaisheh are on. Can't tell for whom though. What a nightmare night for Matthew Spiranovic. And now come the handbags, as the frustration boils over! What was that about? Jordan 2-0 Australia
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
GOAL JORDAN GAME OVER IN AMMAN, AMID THE JOY OF THE STADIUM! JORDAN WILL TAKE THE THREE POINTS!!! It broke once again, with an apparent foul on Davidson ignored in the build-up. It fell to Fadel Hasan, whose attempted pass through the box deflected off that man again Spiranovic, and it fell to the man of the night for me, Hamza Aldaradreh, who gets his goal, as he slots calmly past Federici! The celebrations begin in Amman! Jordan 2-0 Australia
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'84: Long range from Milligan finds the target, but again, straight at Shafi, whose positioning has been excellent all evening. Once again with the juggle, and once again has soft hands to keep it away from the oncoming Australian attackers. Jordan 1-0 Australia
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'82: Chance Australia, and what a chance! Finally Australia get a touch of fluency, lead by Mooy finding Leckie on the right edge of the box, and with Burns, Cahill, Juric and Mooy awaiting, Leckie overcooks the cross over all of them, and the chance is gone! Jordan 1-0 Australia
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'78: Cahill with the head, Shafi with the save! Finally Australia get behind the defence, and a cross from Davidson finds Cahill's head, but the direction was comfortable for the stopper, and Jordan keep their lead. Jordan 1-0 Australia
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'76: Australia not finding a way to penetrate this obdurate Jordanian defence, and neither can they string their passes together. Ange Postecoglou risking all now, sacrificing the defender Bailey Wright for Tomi Juric, he of the memorable assist against South Korea in the Asian Cup Final in January. Jordan 1-0 Australia
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'72: Hits the wall first time, and it bounces back for Mooy, whose follow up is through the legs and straight at the goalkeeper. Shafi does well to keep soft hands and retain the ball in the face of incoming blue Australian shirts. Plenty of time still on the clock, but Jordan again heading to another memorable night against Australia. Jordan 1-0 Australia
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'70: Free kick for Australia earnt by Elrich, who burst forward and is impeded. It's a free kick 20 yards out, and is virtually central. Big chance for Australia from a setpiece. Mooy on this. Jordan 1-0 Australia
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'65: Injury in the box, and it's the goalscorer Hassan Abdel-Fatah, who clutches at his eye after a corner from Mooy. The play continued with the referee not blowing for the stoppage, but it came to nothing. And here's Australia's second change, and here is Tim Cahill for Tom Rogic. At the young age of 35, can he save Australia again? Jordan 1-0 Australia
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
'61: Corner for Australia taken short by Mooy, before it's delivered back to the Melbourne City player, and the header is from Spiranovic at the near post, but the direction is off, and Jordan survive a brief moment of pressure. Jordan 1-0 Australia