The Socceroos have won the first leg of their two-game friendly series against Greece, with a goal from Matthew Leckie on the last play of the day proving to be the difference.
REPORT: LECKIE WINNER SEES SOCCEROOS TRIUMPH
Final score
Australia 1
Greece 0
The Socceroos are looking to bounce back from their loss to England last week, tackling a formidable Greece side inside ANZ Stadium. Join The Roar for all the thrilling live highlights and action from 8pm (AEST).
Ange Postecoglou’s Australian side went down in a valiant effort to England last week, letting in two goals to one as they continue to find form and iron out their kinks coming into the final stages of World Cup Qualifying.
With two games against the Greeks in quick succession, Postecoglou is expected to do some experimenting with his squad, in what is an almost ideal warm-up game against a side ranked higher than them.
The clashes with Greece always carry a touch of extra emotion and importance for both sides, with such a huge Greek population in Sydney and Melbourne.
And don’t forget the Greek heritage that carries through many of the Socceroos players, including Postecoglou himself. Apostolos Giannou has actually played an international for Greece, but has since switched his allegiance to the green and gold.
The Greek men will be looking to put on a showing away from home, searching for confidence from the disappointment of missing Euro 2016.
Similarly to the Australians, Greece is likely to chop and change a little to prepare for World Cup Qualifying.
They will be missing two key players up front in Kostas Mitroglou and Konstantinos Fortounis, the later having scored both of Greece’s goals in their last international in March, a losing effort to Iceland 2-3.
Prediction
Greece are ranked nearly 20 places higher (Aus 59, Gre 40) according to FIFA, but with a weakened side and a game away from home, the Europeans could find it difficult to get going in Sydney.
The Greek side won’t be as aggressive up front as England were last week, placing a lot more emphasis on defence, so the Socceroos will have to lean on their speed on the counter attack to break through the line.
Draw, maybe 2-2
Can the Socceroos pick up a confidence-boosting win at home? Or will Greece take a one game lead into the second fixture early next week? Follow all the live highlights and action on The Roar from 8:00pm (AEST).
Kasey
Roar Pro
A very interesting game even though the majority of it was locked at 0-0. Reminded me a lot of the good old days of the NSL..Interesting game to watch, some really classy touches, a terrible pitch and audible chants of Hellas Hellas during the night ;-/ Seriously though: Ange is correct. that pitch was an embarrassment to our nation. Hang your heads in shame ANZ Stadium.
bossk
Guest
hes scored twice before
Connor Bennett
Editor
Giannou was solid, that's all though, he wasn't a stand out and he didn't play badly, he was just solid in his role. Got the job done.
Connor Bennett
Editor
Click here for the full match report from this game Special mention to Timmy Cahill who set off like he won the World Cup after the disallowed goal, losing the shirt on his way up field, revealing the sports bra.
jamesb
Guest
Leckie is the hero at the last minute. In the game itself, how did Giannou fare?
Connor Bennett
Editor
His first international goal from Matthew Leckie, who incidently also got married less than a week ago, the reason he missed the England game last week
DMac
Guest
Not at all.
Connor Bennett
Editor
FULLTIME The whistle blows for full time as the players celebrate the Leckie goal. A wonderful game of football, but just the one goal on the stroke of full time. A valiant effort from Greece who continued to fight and muscle their way into the contest. Australia had the run of play for the majority and deserved the win in the end. Australia - 1 Greece - 0
Smoky_destacado
Guest
Deganek is quality. He has that position now.
Connor Bennett
Editor
90' +3 Gersbach finds a Greek defender, it deflects to Jedinak who fires off a shot... no good though with another deflection. Leckie with the ball at the top of the box now and.... IT'S IN!!!!! GOAL AUSTRALIA!!!! After injury time has finished, last play of the game and Matthew Leckie has fired home the win!!! A couple of shots had already found the bodies of Greek defenders, but Leckie finds enough space at the top of the box to drill the ball into the bottom left corner. What a finish Australia - 1 Greece - 0
Connor Bennett
Editor
90' +2 A foul given to Greece and this crowd has really found their voices in the dying moments of this game. Greece have a late chance at goal!! But a poor finish lets them down and the Socceroos desperately head up field searching for a goal Australia - 0 Greece - 0
Connor Bennett
Editor
90' +3 minutes of stoppage time Australia - 0 Greece - 0
Connor Bennett
Editor
89' GOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAALLLLLL!!! TIM CAHILL!!!!! He's slotted the ball from the corner, right off the middle of the melon and the deadlock has been broken!! Cahill is off towards the crowd, the shirt is off and... oh... hang on. THE WHISTLE IS BLOWING. NO GOAL The linesman has his flag up and the crowd are booing the roof off ANZ Stadium. That is a huge blow. Australia - 0 Greece - 0
Stevo
Roar Rookie
Great opportunity for Leckie to have hit a cross field pass but no he decides to hold the ball and run into a posse of Hellas players lolz
Connor Bennett
Editor
89' Jedinak at the back now, Australia heading down the left wing towards Leckie. Gersbach gets the cross in with very little support in the middle but the Socceroos earn a corner in the end Australia - 0 Greece - 0
Connor Bennett
Editor
87' Australia on the counter attack!! Matt Leckie has the pace to burn but he has two or three Greek players reigning down on him. The foul is given against Greece but they've recovered well to put an end to the breakaway Australia - 0 Greece - 0
Connor Bennett
Editor
86' Leckie has been called up for a foul, there was a bit of a delay on the call from the ref, it was a tough one. Australia - 0 Greece - 0
jamesb
Guest
Sounds like Greece has dragged Australia into a defence orientated dour game.
Connor Bennett
Editor
85' Tatchsidis with a superb cross into the box!! Very lucky for the few Australian's coming back to cover as the Greek's had three men in the box, the cross just couldn't find one of them Australia - 0 Greece - 0
Connor Bennett
Editor
83' Australia are entrenching themselves around the Greece box now, winning another corner. Trent Sainsbury gets the noggin onto the ball but can't direct the ball properly, just shooting wide to the left Australia - 0 Greece - 0