The Socceroos have progressed smoothly into the third round of qualifiers for the World Cup, guaranteeing top spot in Group B with a 3-0 win over Nepal.
First-half goals from Mathew Leckie and Fran Karacic had Graham Arnold’s side sitting comfortably at Kuwait’s Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium, before Martin Boyle’s close-range finish made it 3-0 after the break.
With seven wins from seven games, Australia are through to the next round of qualification regardless of the result of their fixture against Jordan on Wednesday morning.
The victory also stretched the Socceroos’ winning streak away from home to six – a run not accomplished since the 1960s.
“The most pleasing aspect was the amount of chances we created,” said coach Arnold, whose side had 28 shots, with 12 on target.
“You have to give credit to Nepal, they fought and fought and fought. They didn’t stop running and fighting.
“We came here to do a job and haven’t finished yet. We’ve played seven games, [secured] 21 points and we’re striving to finish this off with eight wins.”
(Photo by Tom Dulat/Getty Images)
Once again, Arnold rotated his squad for the contest, with Mitch Duke and Harry Souttar the only players to retain their starting role from the side that downed Taiwan 5-1 on Tuesday.
Sydney FC goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne was handed his first action of the campaign, while Melbourne City’s Connor Metcalfe made his first international start.
The Socceroos struck early when Aziz Behich picked out Leckie with a ball from the left that the 30-year-old powered home with a header in the sixth minute.
Ranked 171st in the world, the Nepalese offered little in the way of attacking threat but, labelled “heroes” by their coach after the game, produced a dogged defensive display.
Nonetheless, continuing to press his case to become Australia’s long-term right-back, Karacic netted his maiden international goal, turning in a Leckie cutback to make it 2-0 in the 38th minute.
Moments before halftime, Nepal were reduced to ten men after defender Rohit Chand was adjudged to have unfairly brought Boyle down from behind as the attacker broke in on goal and was shown a red card.
After squandering two chances, Boyle made it 3-0 in the 57th when he poked home from an inch-perfect pass from his Hibernian teammate Jackson Irvine.
It was almost 4-0 just two minutes later, but Leckie’s flicked on header from an Ajdin Hrustic corner rebounded off the post and back into play.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
I assume it is McGree to start against Jodan. I'm also assuming Sainsbury and Ryan with perhaps Degenek & Grant, however who will play left back? Curtis is a decent player however he was exposed during the Taiwan game. Should be interesting given Jordan need three points.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
Even if Jordan win they are no guarantee to proceed. It’s rather tight in the race for second with Iran in real danger of not making the third round. EDIT: Just checked the maths and I am incorrect. They will got through if they win on goal difference.
Mark
Guest
We would be better off losing. Jordan will get through to the next round, and they will take the place of a better side.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
should be saying Karacic lacked a right winger and his strength is playing the ball to his right winger.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
It was an ordinary performance, considering they were 1 man up for 45 minutes. Nepal were less defensive than Chinese Taipei and came out to press. The central midfield pairing of Irvine and Metcalfe were targeted by Nepal who pressed them immediately when they got the ball and they couldn't play through them. Both looked physically energetic and unaffected by the conditions unlike their teammates the combination of two box to box workers and enforcers lacked the passing ability as a duo. Souttar and DeGenek could not take advantage of them being given time with the ball, and neither went forward either to make plays unlike Sainsbury in the previous match. Souttar slight better passing out than DeGenek. Arnold with such a big squad well the only thing he has got a lot of is fresh goalkeepers, how he got two injured without playing a minute is a mystery. Now he has a squad with six center backs, only one left back , playing Leckie as a central striker he has too many even with Taggart injured and It was quite noticeable then Hrujstic was suffering from playing too much you dont recover as quickly in the heat, and in the first half he really struggled did very little but looked better when Nepal went down to 10 men but I though shot too much from distance. Duke starting two matches in a row, looked well down on his usual levels. Leckie looked good , scored a great header and set up the second well but he had a full rest. Boyle didnt look too good in the first match and then looked down on that in this despite a full rest. Behich who was energetic in the first match was well down on that, and he had a full rest as well. Karacic he didnt look as fresh in his first match but not as tired looking as Behich. Karacic lacked a left winger for most of the match, that seems his strength playing the ball to his left winger, apart from Leckie who made a run to right wing to set up the second goal. Hrujstic when he plays in this position doesn't link up with his fullback that was also evident in the previous match when Grant was ignored as well and McGree was also central. When Mabil went to the right wing late in the match started linking up well with Karacic but Karacic he looks more a central midfielder than a fullback he was reluctant to cross for some reason. In the past when AUstralia have struggled with the heat its the second half that teams then cause them problems , so that Nepal went down to ten men really means they were not tested at all during what is the critical period
NoMates
Roar Rookie
I hope we smash Jordan as we need to make a statement going into the 3rd round.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
Packed and organised defence with a goalkeeper in form, so three goals from open play isn’t too bad at all. Next game will be interesting though as Jordan need three points; a loss means there’s no tomorrow and a draw would require two of UAE, Iran & Uzbekistan to lose. Our defence is going to finally get a work-out.