It was far from pretty but the Socceroos stormed home to a 2-0 victory against an antagonistic UAE outfit in a crucial World Cup qualifier at the Sydney Football Stadium.
With a massive three points on the line, the green and gold made their intentions clear right from the kick off, playing at a frantic and intense pace.
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The Socceroos came to Sydney on the back of four consecutive stalemates that had many worried for Australia’s hopes of qualifying for a fourth consecutive World Cup.
A nation’s nerves were settled early as Burton Albion’s Jackson Irvine headed home his first international goal inside the first ten minutes.
Despite waving off a number of early scares from the visitors, the hosts maintained a firm hand on the match in the early stages.
Australia’s inability to add to the scoreboard allowed the visitors to claw their way into the match. 2016 AFC player of the year Omar Abdulrahman lead from the front in creating a plethora of problems for the Socceroos and very nearly equalised had it not been for the goalkeeping heroics of Matt Ryan who returned to the starting line up.
The narrow lead felt all too familiar for the home side who desperately looked to put the game to bed with a second goal that looked as though it would never come after the Socceroos squandered numerous golden chances that would have been put away any other day.
It took until the 78th minute for Australia to seal the deal. James Troisi once again the provider who landed the ball perfectly onto the head of Matthew Leckie from the corner as a nation breathed a massive sigh of relief.
The contest was certainly hotly contested with tensions boiling left, right and centre. It took until the 80th minute for the first yellow card to be dished out despite both sides committing a number of bookable fouls.
The loss for the visitors ends their hopes of qualifying for Russia 2018. The UAE manifested immense determination but were just unable to make that crucial breakthrough and have thus been denied the opportunity to qualify for just their second World Cup.
Despite the valiant performance UAE coach Mahdi Ali has resigned in the press conference after the match.
Aaron Mooy’s absence did not seem to faze the Socceroos who prevailed with Jackson Irvine and Matthew Leckie rising to the occasion to secure a significant three points.
Australia meet group leaders Saudi Arabia at home in Adelaide in June whilst the UAE travel to Thailand for their next fixture.
Fulltime
Australia 2 (Irvine 6′ , Leckie 78′) def. 0 UAE.
Match preview
It’s do or die for the Socceroos who face the UAE in a must-win World Cup Qualifier if they want to secure automatic qualification for Russia 2018. Join The Roar from 8pm (AEDT) for the live scores and commentary from Allianz Stadium.
The road to Russia just got all the more difficult for the green and gold. The most recent draw to Iraq has resulted in the Socceroos slipping down to third in the group behind Saudi Arabia and Japan.
The draw being Australia’s fourth consecutive stalemate and with only four more qualifiers left to play the Socceroos could be staring down the barrel of an arduous route to Russia.
Despite not having lost any games so far the green and gold have dropped crucial points and created a greater sense of angst back home.
Fortunately for the Socceroos three of the last four qualifiers are on home soil in a climate that will more or less suit Australia.
Australia meet the UAE after a disappointing result in Tehran against Iraq. After finding the back of the net through a Matthew Leckie header the Socceroos were unable to finish off their opponents and were unable to regain the lead after the home side equalised.
The UAE meanwhile sit only a point behind the Socceroos in fourth position which amplifies the significance of the match.
The visitors recently went down 2-0 to Japan at home and will be determined to upset the Asian Champions and qualify for the World Cup for only the second time.
The last World Cup the UAE qualified for was Italy in 1990 where they failed to make it out of the group stage.
This is not the first time these two sides have met with their last meeting being in the semi-final of the 2015 Asian Cup in Newcastle.
Goals from Trent Sainsbury and Jason Davidson guided Australia to their second Asian Cup final which they eventually went on to win.
Ange Postecoglou has hinted at a number of changes to the side that was held by Iraq last week.
Star playmaker Aaron Mooy will miss the crucial contest due to suspension, with his absence certainly testing the quality of the depth within the national side.
It will also be interesting to see whether Postecoglou will stick to the new formation experimented against Iraq.
The Socceroos were seen playing three at the back which seems to have come back into fashion in modern football.
The Socceroos will have to be weary of UAE playmaker Omar Abdulrahman who has made a name for himself, attracting the interest of European suitors.
The 25-year-old was named the 2016 AFC player of the year currently playing for Al Ain FC in UAE Arabian Gulf League.
Abdulrahman is no stranger to Australian football fans, lighting up the Asian Cup with his skills and cheeky panenka against Japan in the penalty shootout. He will certainly be one to watch.
Playing in Sydney at the Allianz Arena should favour former Western Sydney Wanderers striker Tomi Juric who played a number of derbies on that ground.
The 25-year-old has only managed the one goal in the campaign and will certainly be looked upon against the UAE to provide quality service as a centre forward.
The Socceroos must also not ignore the talents of Tim Cahill who has found the back of the net on nine occasions in Australia’s qualification campaign.
Despite being 37 Cahill is still an ominous threat in the air and could provide that ‘X-factor’ that the Socceroos have been lacking.
This is arguably the most important match of the campaign thus far where anything less than the three points being disastrous for the home side.
Prediction: Socceroos 2-0.
Will the Socceroos bounce back after four consecutive draws? Or will the UAE pull of a massive upset and provide hope for qualification? Join The Roar from 8pm (AEDT) to find out!
Nemesis
Guest
Bresciano was part of the team that failed spectacularly at Asia Cup 2007 and struggled through the qualifiers under Verbeek and Osieck. Australia hasn't yet lost a match. So, if there are problems with our game (and I agree we have some problems), then the opposition teams who can't beat us must be in real trouble.
Carl Sorge
Guest
Too much wrong with Australias game at the moment. The midfield can't hold the ball under pressure, their passing is aimless and the balls are not hit crisply enough. Only Robbie Kruse can cross the ball properly so Tommy Oar should be brought back. And why is it that Tim Cahill is the only forward anticipating play in the top third while all the other "forwards" are usually flat footed and ball watching. We miss Bresciano who knew how to receive the ball and make space for a measured pass. Too much huff and puff and not enough control of the ball.
Carl Sorge
Guest
I don't think goal difference counts if we end on the same points as Saudi. It will be head to head results first and if Australia has beaten Saudi in Australia they will have the better head to head record. If the Aussies win all three remaining games then they will get second spot and go through auto. But I am not confident they will do this. Their performances under Ange are getting worse and who introduces a new playing system in a qualifying tournament and uses competition games to bed it in.
Nemesis
Guest
"Even if we win all our 3 remaining games we could still miss out on automatic WC Qualification if SA score more goals, so its already out of our hands and we need results to go our way" Nonsense. That's mathematically impossible. If we win all 3 games we finish with 22 points. Saudi & Japan cannot both get 6 points from their remaining 2 games because they play each other; so one, or both, cannot finish with 22 points.
Cousin Claudio
Roar Guru
I'd have to agree that was one of the worst games of national team football I've ever seen. Ange's saying that we shouldn't just be trying to qualify. Well, if we keep playing that we won't even qualify and if we do, we won't win a game. It wasn't even enjoyable to watch. Even if we win all our 3 remaining games we could still miss out on automatic WC Qualification if SA score more goals, so its already out of our hands and we need results to go our way. Back to Oceania FC anyone?
Chris
Guest
jb I agree with your comment that we need another Smith to fulfil that role. Thats why I maintain that not many teams can play with a back 3 as they just dont have the players to fulfil the up and down the line role (not well anyway). Leckie is an attack minded player and so therefore there was a distinct imbalance in last nights formation.
marcel
Guest
PH...I see your point ...but the primary issue for us up front is the almost complete lack of energy and mobility. We don't rotate, we dont open up space to provide quick passing options for the midfield, we don't play in "3 dimensions"..as a result we just dont transition quickly enough...that is essential to breaking up modern, stacked defences. There was a brief moment in the Iraq game when we did all of those things and it was a joy to watch.
MarkfromCroydon
Roar Pro
Wow, that was some team. When you look back, you realise that even with the best players it's hard to win international games, and just putting the best players on the park doesn't mean you'll win, but you need to plan and set up for the conditions and the opponent of the indivisual match, and have everyone fit and ready and up to speed with the game plan. Puts the current situation into perspective.
hogdriller
Roar Rookie
Nemesis, you say "When the players execute it well, it’s fantastic". How do you mean 'execute' it? Two goals scored from corners. Juric looked sometimes like he was waiting on a bus. This formation makes them a wee bit top heavy IMO, where we did not show the hunger or ruthlessness I would have thought from such a heavy front. And at the opposing end of this formation, we were found lacking in defence where the Japs, I fear will just cut right thru us. This system may work well for a league team where the coach has more time to implement such, where he has ongoing contact, discussion and practise on a daily basis where adjustments can be tweaked and issues discussed at hand.......not from an N.T. coach where his team are predominantly based all over the place Europe, Middle East, Asia and Australia, and especially at the critical stage of a W.C. qualifying group stage where he's only given the time allowed during a pre-game training camp to prepare, not withstanding travel times or media duties. I just don't think we have the players or even the time (as you say) to implement this system as a team collective, for our upcoming crucial matches.
Caltex & SBS support Australian Football
Guest
Yes, Griffo, I concur, the diagonal ball catches our defence out time after, time. And you are right, we look top heavy at times. Also not sure why we are not playing out from the back like we use to---is it the system, or because of the poor state of the pitches?
j binnie
Guest
Post Hoc -I only have one problem with your theory and that is the similarity in the play of both of the players you mention, for their obvious lack of real pace over 10 metres can make them superfluous to any football tactical system, one yes ,but both??? debatable. The truly great teams in football history have had one, and one only, play-maker , Di Stefano at Real, Hidegkuti at Hungary, Cruyff at Holland,and Sindelaar in the Austrian "wunderteam". This is a pleasant problem for AP and his team but ,because of our tendency to give over possession with unforced errors.it is essential our midfield is ,in the main , populated by players with 90 minutes of work and effort available. Cheers jb.
j binnie
Guest
Chris - You have to let your imagination run wide. Back 3 formations are not new, Arsenal started the trend back in the 1920's when the manager moved his centre-"half" (note the name) back between the full backs becoming a centre-"back" (note the name) and signalled the beginning of the system known as WM. With us moving forward in fitness and equipment improvements, there are other examples that show the change of thinking in football. First of all came the Hungarians with their super team that saw Sebes,the coach, invert the front "W" using 2 strikers to do the scoring while the erstwhile front three were used as a play-maker and fast, destructive, wide "ball carriers" so that the formation became a loose "WW" formation, The die was cast and change became almost a worldwide phenomenon with the Russians,Brazilians,Italians and Dutch all making contributions to the overall change. Back to last night. Change is again in the air with AP trying a back three, thus in theory making us technically & numerically superior in midfield with up to 5 or 6 players performing in that area. There are some promising signs and ,of course, some worrying signs ,but that is natural when change is taking place. The system needs the right players in the right positions and this ,as usual, takes a bit of "tweaking", as has been proved at Sydney FC especially this season. Personally, if Jedinak is to be used, I feel he should be the no nonsense central defender in a back three, a position he currently plays with his club. Sainsbury ,on the other hand, shows a tendancy to "do a Beckenbaur " out of the back 3 and this is a no-no for the "cornerstone" of the back 3. So what do we need for this team to "click"?. We need another "Smith" to play on the right,working back and forth helping out where needed but in fact ,by his very presence giving the team a double threat out on each flank. Leckie can supply the go-forward but his work at the back is actually a danger to his own team. To maintain the mid -field aggression we need fast tireless workers and last night Irvine and Troisi appeared to give that to the team effort, but showed up the ineffectiveness of Jedinak in that role. With Irvine and Leckie both getting goals from cross balls they showed that the ability to "get in there" can supply a threat. All in all I don't think last night was a lost cause,there is little doubt the system can be improved,not necessarily by wholesale change in personnel but in fitting existing players into positions that better uses their talents. Cheers jb.
Cool and Cold
Guest
After 5 matches (one round robin), still there are people could not sense the danger of Socceroos being at 3rd place. Then after another 2 matches, (7 played), it is so apparent about the heat now. There is a gentleman here saying must win Saudi, draw Japan and win Thai. However, even so, Socceroos may still be at 3rd place. Why? It is because that the points for Socceroos is 20. With 20 points, Socceroos may still be at 3rd place due to goal difference. Example, for the next 3 matches: Aus WDW (20 points); Japan WDD (21); Saudi LWD (20 points) ----3rd place is decided on goal difference Hope they can win Saudi 2-0 next time to get back to 2nd place and to give pressure to Japan and Saudi.
punter
Guest
The beauty of football Fadida, he is not a playmaker at this level, thought he was slow in transition & missed so many runs by the forwards. He never broke the line, won a 1v1 or slipped a pass in the last 1/3. Not for me.
Fadida
Guest
Sorry Punter, your view from the stands just have been obscured. He was excellent, far more effective than Luongo
Shadow Manager
Guest
Has anyone else (eg, coaches of Japan and Saudi Arabia) caught onto the other stunning tactical shift of not marking individual players - standing off and going for the intercept rather than reducing the involvement of your opponents and making it difficult for them to get/control the ball? The quick control and turns of the Japanese players will give them a field day. Mobile outside players - Grant and maybe Goodwin or Zullo might be better midfield fits in the new system. I disagree with the description of Juric as a statue - he is a classical GARDEN GNOME!!!
Chris
Guest
Yes but what about having to play at an oval? Geez are we not past this 70s type of approach to our home games? If you dont have a rectangular stadium that can hold a minimum of 50k then you just dont get crucial WC qualifiers.
Chris
Guest
For me, a back 4 always has the ball and attacking opponent in front of them. When you have a back 3 the wide players need to track up and down to defend and attack. Very few players possess the ability to defend and attack at this level. So the ball getting in behind our wide players happens regularly. That, coupled with the back 3 being shifted out wide leaving holes in the middle (ie if our wide player hasn't tracked back). Not sure what the huge advantage is in having a back 3 + 2 wide defenders. It just gets too muddled.
Post_hoc
Guest
two very different types of CF/strikers. Cahill is not a target man, he roams, you often find him out really wide looking for the ball. Jurics job and he does it really well is to stay central, often playing with his back to the goal. It is his Job, it is why he is put there. The beauty of this game is there are many ways to play, and he does his role well. So I disagree with that criticism of him
Post_hoc
Guest
Agreed, well said