The Socceroos have only themselves to blame if they fail to beat an extremely limited Honduras in front of a sell-out crowd at ANZ Stadium to reach the World Cup in Russia.
Only one team looked like they couldn’t handle the pressure at the Estadio Olimpico Metropolitano, and it was Honduras.
It became immediately apparent that playing passing football on an absolute sponge of a pitch in San Pedro Sula would prove impossible, but the Australian back three – or is it a back five, Ange? – easily dealt with the long diagonal balls chipped into the corners from Honduras’ attack.
And the Socceroos could have taken the lead when referee Daniele Orsato clearly awarded a penalty just before the 20-minute mark, only for the decision to be inexplicably overturned.
We can argue all we like about the merits of awarding a spot-kick, but the letter of the law is that if a goalkeeper ploughs through the back of an attacking player, it’s a penalty.
You rarely see them given, so it was a surprise when Orsato pointed to the spot – but it was even more of a surprise when the decision was suddenly overturned for no discernible reason.
If it was ruled out for offside then it was a shocking decision, because one of the Hondurans – it was hard to catch who – was playing all of the Australians onside.
Even allowing for another baffling refereeing decision at international level, the Socceroos still should have seen off the Hondurans comfortably in a game that ultimately finished scoreless.
If Tomi Juric had his time again, he would surely have taken another touch when he charged through one on one with Honduras goalkeeper Donis Escober.
The ball may have taken a horrible bobble on an absolute cow paddock of a pitch, but in truth Juric largely butchered his big moment.
He later headed an effort straight at Escober when it looked easier to put it in either corner, and the Socceroos will hope that such key moments in the tie don’t come back to haunt them.
They shouldn’t though, because Australia mostly bossed Honduras on their home turf – the difficult conditions notwithstanding.
Massimo Luongo took the initiative more than once, driving towards the heart of the Honduras defence instead of passing responsibility off to a teammate in a wide area, and he was almost rewarded early on when Escober scooped Luongo’s low drive wide.
He also cut the ball back just after the hour mark, only to somehow dissect two Australian teammates waiting to tap the ball in.
Aziz Behich was another noteworthy contributor, while the return of skipper Mile Jedinak gave the Socceroos some much-needed steel in midfield.
But having failed to score an all-important away goal in San Pedro Sula, the trick now is to avoid getting hit on the counter-attack in front of a packed ANZ Stadium in Homebush.
Mat Ryan was really only troubled once by substitute Carlo Costly at the Metropolitano, but the Socceroos can ill-afford any moments of complacency when it all comes down to a do-or-die final leg.
And it’s probably about time the Socceroos demonstrated some self-belief in front of their own fans, after they ventured to the great unknown of Honduras and handled the away leg with aplomb.
For all the talk of hostile atmospheres, the Socceroos never looked unduly troubled in the heat and humidity of northern Honduras.
Instead, it should be 80,000 fans in Sydney who help get the Socceroos over the line, and having done it once before against Uruguay in 2005, we know exactly what it takes to book a ticket to Russia.
The Socceroos are halfway there – even if the lack of an away goal could spell trouble in the return leg.
If there’s nothing to fear but fear itself, then a measured performance in San Pedro Sula suggests the Socceroos have nothing to fear at all.
chris
Guest
I dont think we got a free ride. You have many examples?
chris
Guest
tony so much anger. Maybe a theraputic massage might help?
me too
Guest
how about you read what i wrote. 'final qualifier' home record' - the last game - as we're playing this week and i was discussing. we've never played in a 'world cup final' qualifier and it isn't my fault if you read a 's' that isn't there. you see everything as a snipe if it doesn't fit with your own view. grow up man. as for afl - i played soccer my whole life and no doubt at a far higher level than you - representative level and had a stint at Adelaide city when young. So stop with your ill mannered assumptions.
Gavin
Guest
Some suggest that he has flown there for his presence and leadership around the group and he wont be fit for the game in Sydney which makes sense. If he was even 50% chance of playing, he'd have stayed home and focused on recovery.
tonyBBB
Guest
everything is fine according to nemesis. especially our finishing, that is our greatest strength
tonyBBB
Guest
Haha you are just as clueless mate. Conveniently forgetting the countless times Nemesis/Fussiboi has made fun of AFL footballers and their mental illness?
groundhog day
Guest
Exactly ... the elephant in the room! Socceroos shot conversion ratio is nothing short of appalling for this whole WCQ series. Save for Tim Cahill our finishing ability is simply NOT of world class standard. Our perilous situation can be simply put down to scoring opportunities squandered due to poor finishes and 'rushed' in the moment execution. Otherwise everything else midfield and defence in is looking very good under Ange ... but can we please get the attack finishing sorted out pronto!
kevin
Guest
Was threre also, the whole southern stand upper levels were filled with the japanses cheer squad... drums etc Infact the crowd was nealy 40% Japanese.. They scraemed something like " jamatta" ( see you later i think ) when an aussie was shown red, it was pretty cool .. Honda cut us to pieces that night
Nemesis
Guest
@me too You tried to snipe at the National Team with this ignorant comment: "Our world cup final qualifier home record includes a lot of score draws. (2 wins, 4 draws – 3 of them score draws)." This is utter garbage. Just to qualify for the World Cup Finals in Russia, Australia has already played 10 Home World Cup Qualfiers & we have Won: 9 and Drawn: 1 How about you read & learn what "World cup final qualifier" means, or, better still, stick with AFL.
Beto
Guest
We are kicking ourselves in the USA! Honduras looked terrible. And Australia looked so mich better than the USA did when we visited San Pedro. My biggest take away; I would do anything to get that Italian ref into concacaf qualifying, unbelievable how bad it can get with some amateur from el salvador calling that game. Great result for Australia. Heavy favorites now, tack care of business in Sydney!
Fadida
Guest
Agree, the ref was excellent
Fadida
Guest
The poor guy has had more than enough injuries without you two hopIng for another one.
Cool N Cold
Guest
No, All the people were focusing on the result of the the last qualifying match: Aus vs Iran. All other 31 places were known. Only not sure Iran or Aus would qualify. That was the reason that match caught so much attention all over the world. It was not like now, there are still places under competition. At the moment, some would focus on Aus and Honduras while some would focus on Italy vs Sweden And some would............ In Nov 1997,,, Aus vs Iran had become sensational.
13th Man
Guest
To be fair Peru dominated most of the game. NZ had a couple of good chances late. Hard to see them getting anywhere near Peru in Lima.
Nemesis
Guest
"Not football websites, chess websites, chatting room, and many others." Ok then. Sounds like a group of people who would be deeply passionate about football.
Breathe Easy
Guest
Seriously....this is bordering on bullying calling someone mentally disturbed because you "disagree" with them. I dont agree with Nemesis or Fuss but this is more of a reflection on you TonyBBB and now the roar that they would allow this post. Talk about playing the man and not the ball....pathetic and gutless!
Jack
Guest
Honduras doesn’t park the bus Syria does ...
tonyBBB
Guest
Fuss/Nemesis is both severely mentally ill and disturbed. I hope he is, or planning to, receive serious medical intervention otherwise this may be irreversible.
me too
Guest
just shown your lack of knowledge fuss. go and check the records. start at 1-1 draw v israel at home which put us out in 69 and continue from there. scotland 0-0, argentina 1-1, iran 2-2, uruguay 1-0, uruguay 1-0. That's four draws (3 score), and 2 wins. You wonder why people rip you to shreds. You are a know nothing that for god knows what reason acts like a know it all.
Chris
Guest
Was Cahill still injured for this match or why was he flown there and not used?