The Socceroos have been left to rue a sour end to their friendly against Mexico, dropping a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 while midfielder Jackson Irvine suffered a nasty late ankle injury.
Harry Souttar headed home in the 16th minute to give Australia the lead in front of a raucous pro-Mexico crowd at the AT&T Stadium in Dallas.
Mexico’s Santi Gimenez missed a 54th-minute penalty before Australia’s Martin Boyle, starting his first international since the knee injury that ruled him out of last year’s World Cup, scored his own spot-kick nine minutes later.
Striker Mitch Duke limped off with a hamstring issue in the 67th minute and Australia were brought undone by two big defensive lapses against the world No.12.
Mexico’s Raul Jimenez scored from the spot in the 69th minute, after debutant Cam Burgess gave away a penalty.
Then Cesar Huerta pounced on a catastrophic mix-up between Souttar, who coach Graham Arnold had urged to use Sunday’s friendly as his “stage” to prove a point to club-side Leicester City, and Maty Ryan to level the scores in the 84th.
The night was further soured when Irvine, who had been superb throughout, rolled his right ankle on the artificial turf and was taken off on a stretcher.
Until the calamitous final half-hour, Souttar and Burgess had mostly looked comfortable in their first start together in the centre of defence, with Kye Rowles shifted to left-back.
The artificial surface was ugly on the eye, and players took time to get to grips with the conditions.
Australia scored after Connor Metcalfe forced a save from Guillermo Ochoa with a long-range effort.
From the subsequent corner, Boyle curled the ball into the near post and Souttar broke away from Johan Vasquez to steer a firm header into the far bottom corner.
Ten minutes into the second half, a Keanu Baccus handball gifted Mexico a penalty but Gimenez clattered his spot-kick onto the post.
Australia earned a spot-kick of their own when Riley McGree burst between Luis Romo and Julian Araujo and was clattered to the floor.
Boyle coolly converted and Australia looked in prime position to claim an impressive win – until they were brought undone by two long balls.
Mexico’s Uriel Antuna was chasing down a long clearance when he was fouled by Burgess after Ryan opted not to come off his line to clear the danger.
With Mexico chasing the game, Souttar ducked under what would normally be a regulation header and Huerta nipped in between the centre-back and Ryan to rifle the ball home.
Debutant Sammy Silvera was introduced for Boyle in the 74th minute.
Grem
Roar Rookie
I think we were flagged and removed from another article! I’m preparing my speech of contrition now.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
The good thing about this team was the mobility and fitness in the midfield and attack having a good press. Usually Australia will have a Mooy, Rogic, Hrustic , Goodwin while providing that piece of quality it comes at the cost of an effective press. The bad thing was Arnold has gone back to his big man theory at the back. Two giant center backs and a center back at left back. Rowles was done over easily all night at left back. Souttar and Burgess they were great with the crosses , the midfield were on hand to help them unlike Rowles they were not isolated 1 on 1. It was the balls over the top that were the killer. Matt Ryan when they played a higher press in the first half did well in coming out for the central balls over the top . In the second half the two he didnt come for they conceeded goals on. Burgess was done for pace and follishly went for the push. Souttar I am not convinced he heard a call and let it go, he was backpedalling and maybe stumbled. These two will be easy for the opposition to beat on the ground.
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
very good against a pretty good side with several quality players. Atmosphere looked full on too, in Dallas.
Waz
Roar Rookie
Say it with me: “Okay Leicester, I see it now”.
NoMates
Roar Rookie
We need to Taco bell the last Socceroo letdown.
Garry
Roar Rookie
ok we mexican waved a good result away :happy:
Garry
Roar Rookie
Actually if you watched the ball appearances were deceptive..the ball behaved quite well except for some extra springiness
Grem
Roar Rookie
I was having Hispanic attacks! Oldy, but a goody and I am a dad!
mrl
Roar Rookie
I choked on my burrito during that last Mexican goal….and now there will be no taco Tuesday!!!
fabian gulino
Roar Rookie
The pitch looked like a farm paddock where cows had a field day on it. Disgraceful to play on it.
Grem
Roar Rookie
2-2 against the twelfth best team in the world and we were missing players - a great effort. If not for a couple of silly errors we would have won. A great hit out for our young players. Hopefully Irvine is OK and back in action in a couple of weeks. Bacchus looked great again - he’s certainly pushing to be a midfield replacement for Mooy.
Aiden
Roar Rookie
Unfortunate that we were undone by schoolboy errors. I’m not sure we can complain about the pitch. Is there a Match report where Australia doesn’t say something about the pitch? You don’t hear it from other nation’s commentators, on and on about the conditions. Just be better guys.