Australia has secured their place in the next round of FIFA World Cup qualifying with a comprehensive 4-0 defeat in Dhaka over bottom placed Bangladesh.
A first half Hat-trick within 37 minutes to record goal scorer Tim Cahill all but sealed the game early on, on top of a goal three minutes from half time by skipper Mile Jedinak had the hosts in a hole.
Cahill opened his account with a typical scorching header off the back of a curling Mooy free kick in the 6th minute; he then doubled up after a very impressive piece of improvisation deep inside the box with bodies, heads and legs fling all around him, with the keeper diving at his legs he managed to bunt the ball down into the turf for it pop back up and hit a volley off the right boot.
A calm Cahill finesse to complete the treble and possibly the easiest goal Mile Jedinak will ever score off the back post rounded out the scorers column for the match.
Despite a blistering opening 45 minutes though, the Socceroos struggled in the second half after a couple of substitutions and a resurgent Bangladesh side. They were never able to regain their rhythm and looked all over the place at points, failing to add to their halftime lead.
Coach Ange Postecoglou said that, while he was pleased with the win, “the second half in particular was a bit sloppy”. Especially with Jordan ahead on goal difference the visitors, and coach Postecoglou in particular, would have liked to extend their lead after the break.
Australia now have two remaining matches at home to complete their qualifying round, while Bangladesh will face Jordan in an attempt to restore some pride to their campaign.
Final Score:
Bangladesh – 0
Australia – 4
Australia will do battle against Bangladesh tonight in a bid to secure their passage to the next round of World Cup qualifying. Join The Roar at 10:30pm (AEDT) for live scores and coverage of all the action from Dhaka.
Despite the Australian cricket team cancelling their tour of Bangladesh earlier in the year due to security scares, the Socceroos elected to travel to Dhaka this evening to take on the last placed hosts.
After dispatching of a resilient Kyrgyzstan in Canberra last week 3-0, Australia are only one win away from jumping Jordan to the top of the standings, and clenching the much needed top two spot in Pool B.
Bangladesh, on the other hand, have travelled a very bumpy road in their World Cup qualifiers, having conceded 18 goals and managed just one draw from their six games so far. They will need to pick up their game substantially if they want to challenge the Asian champions.
In their last encounter the Socceroos easily dispatched their Asian rivals, comfortably piling on five goals to nil in comprehensive fashion.
The home side is coming off another five-zip thrashing at the hands of Tajikistan last Thursday and are now playing for pride. The heavy defeats will have no doubt hurt the confidence of the Bangladeshi players and it will be hard for them to really get up for this contest.
Australia are in very good form at the moment despite their surprise loss to Jordan last month, however, coach Ange Postecoglou will be dealing with some injury headaches after their win against Kyrgyzstan.
Tom Juric went down early in the first half of the aforementioned match last week and has been ruled out of this game. After being in doubt for last game, Tom Rogic has thrown in the towel and is headed back to club side Celtic with quad soreness. Winger Nathan Burns is expected to take his spot in the squad despite being attended to last week in Canberra.
Matt McKay is expected to jump into the midfield and there could be possible run on starts for Tommy Oar as well as James Troisi.
Bangladesh have squad issues of their own though and a younger, more inexperienced side is expected to take the park tonight than the one that went down to Tajikistan.
The home side will be without some experienced heads on the pitch as winger Zahid Hossain, Jahid Hasan Ameli and Nasiruddin Chowdhury will all be missing from the action tonight.
Prediction:
It will no doubt be a tough road trip for the Socceroos especially with all the security scares that caused issues with the cricket side and of course the recent attacks in Paris. Australia will be looking to get in, get the three points, and get out as quickly as possible.
Against a struggling side in Bangladesh I think an in form Australia will be far too good.
Australia 4-0 Bangladesh.
Join me on The Roar as we follow every kick, pass and goal from 10:30pm (AEDT).
Professor Rosseforp
Guest
I think you may have mis-typed "head and footwork" on Cahill's second goal. A good look at the replay indicates "hand and footwork -- mainly hand". I only saw the 2nd half live, and what a scrappy affair it was. Still plenty for the Socceroos to think about, if they were unable to put Bangladesh to the sword. Their defence was not well-composed, but seemed to fluster the Socceroos, who really need not to learn not to be flustered by opposition teams. The inability of anybody but Cahill to score, even when presented with easy chances, is also a continuing worry. Jedinak's goal is excepted, but the miraculous thing for me is that he didn't kick it high or wide. Any opposition only has to nullify Cahill to nullify Australia. Difficult pitch, difficult conditions, a referee who was overly generous to Bangladesh (in spite of the yellow cards against them), poor linesmen who missed offside calls regularly, and a "lucky" 2nd goal. As against Kyrgyzstan, a win is a win, but the Socceroo dominance in possession, and victories, doesn't ease the impression that the team lacks fluidity and cohesion.
Connor Bennett
Editor
Australia got off to a flying start after Cahill got his head to a curling Mooy free kick in the 6th minute and continued to dominate possession and field position for the entirety of the first half. Cahill doubled up 32nd after a messy bit of head and footwork resulted in the ball finding it's way in the net from very close range; he then completed the first half hat trick with a sublime right foot touch off the back of a low cross into the box just five minutes later. The Aussies were hungry for goals and it showed. Captain Jedinak netted their fourth goal of the half with the simplest goal he'll ever score, alone on the post with no one in front of him he simply bunted it in. A couple of changes at half time and it was a different game in the second 45. Bangladesh fought very hard and valiantly as they sought some kind of positive to take from the game but the Socceroos just looked disjointed and uninterested for the second half. Being behind Jordan on goal difference, Ange Postecoglou will be very disappointed that his men didn't build on their lead after the break but will no doubt be happy with the end result.
Connor Bennett
Editor
FULLTIME Australia take the three points and the lead in Group B despite a blistering first half that was followed up by a pretty nondescript second half. Bangladesh - 0 Australia - 4
Connor Bennett
Editor
90' +3 Troisi gets boot to ball from a long long way out but he sends in a bullet, unfortunately sprays a touch wide and high. Bangladesh - 0 Australia - 4
Jack
Guest
I meant russia
Jack
Guest
I really think burns is not the answer as a striker we need depth and he won't be in Brazil ... I noticed ginnao got capped by Greece ?
Connor Bennett
Editor
90' +2 Australia look a little deflated that they've been kept scoreless this half, certainly not their best half of football. Bangladesh - 0 Australia - 4
Connor Bennett
Editor
90' +3 minutes of stoppage time. Bangladesh - 0 Australia - 4
Connor Bennett
Editor
90' Biswas makes a scintillating run down the left touchline and beats Risdon with good footwork but the cross is a disappointing one. Bangladesh - 0 Australia - 4
Connor Bennett
Editor
88' And once again a Bangladesh player has gone down to halt play.. and gotten straight back up again. Frustrating for Australia, the referee and the crowd. Bangladesh - 0 Australia - 4
Connor Bennett
Editor
87' YELLOW CARD Bangladesh captain Islam has been shown the card for back chatting the ref and giving him a little push. Can't lay your hands on the officials like that, poor form by Islam. Bangladesh - 0 Australia - 4
Connor Bennett
Editor
85' The counter is on now for Australia as the home team had a lot of men forward. The play comes to an end after an average cross from Troisi is picked off. Bangladesh - 0 Australia - 4
Connor Bennett
Editor
84' Bangladesh looking dangerous here in the attacking quarter. Long throw in to come in now. Bangladesh - 0 Australia - 4
Connor Bennett
Editor
83' Biswas fights hard against two defenders and earns himself a free kick for his efforts. Bangladesh - 0 Australia - 4
Connor Bennett
Editor
82' Meanwhile the referee has a good long chat to both captains. Bangladesh - 0 Australia - 4
Connor Bennett
Editor
82' SUBSTITUTION Sajib to come on for Ziban Bangladesh - 0 Australia - 4
Connor Bennett
Editor
81' Davidson this time getting the cross in but it goes over the head of one but onto the foot of Cahill who falls whilst in the motion of the shot. Bangladesh - 0 Australia - 4
Connor Bennett
Editor
80' Fantastic ball through to Risdon down the right side and he centers it. Jedinak gets an interesting shot away but a very nice save from Alam keeps the net safe. Bangladesh - 0 Australia - 4
Connor Bennett
Editor
78' Oar with plenty of time by himself in the left corner but duffs the cross badly, lucky to result in a corner. Bangladesh - 0 Australia - 4
Connor Bennett
Editor
77' Interesting talk about the impact Aaron Mooy had in the opening 45 and how the midfield has been struggling in the second since he came off. Bangladesh - 0 Australia - 4