It was an underwhelming piece of history, but history nonetheless: Australia have retained the Soccer Ashes, some 80 years since they were last contested, with a comfortable 2-0 win over New Zealand in London.
Massimo Luongo, who was also returning after long time out, was the star. His last appearance for his country was five years ago, but he immediately dominated, adding intelligence to the midfield and continually finding space between the lines to create opportunities.
With Aaron Mooy now retired, Luongo’s comeback as an experienced, clever midfielder is timely addition to Grrarham Arnold’s options ahead of two World Cup qualifiers in November and an Asian Cup in January.
“An amazing feeling,” said Luongo. “I just enjoyed it. I wasn’t nervous, I didn’t build it up in my head. I felt at home.
“Today, Arnie put me in and put his full trust in me. I think the boys played really well. We played with a lot of freedom. I am just happy to get on the pitch and do what I can do. I loved it.”
The win continued the confidence in the camp that was gained through a strong performance against England over the weekend, with several passages of excellent one-touch football and a solid defensive showing that denied the Kiwis as much as a single shot on target.
The issues in attack do remain, however. Mitch Duke, playing as the central striker, did turn home his first opportunity – though it was later given to Harry Souttar, whom it clipped on the way through – but spurned others.
Brandon Borrello, introduced late as competition for the number nine role, produced a contender for miss of the year before the A-League season has even started, sending a shot wide with an open goal in front of him.
Arnold gave a debut to Alex Circati, the Parma centre back, and a first start to Lewis Miller, as well as the return for Luongo.
Circati was unflustered at the back on debut, though hardly tested by a Kiwi attack that never got going. Bill Tuiloma’s free kick off the bar was as good as it got for the All Whites.
“The most important thing is creating chances and we created plenty but didn’t put many in the back of the net,” said Arnold. “I am pleased with how we played and improvement is the key.”
New Zealand had the brighter start, and by the time Australia took the lead, it was very much against the run of play.
On the face of it, it was a well-constructed goal with Circati showing good strength to keep a cross in play at the back post, allowing Duke to slam home via Souttar.
Questions, however, must be asked of the defending: the Kiwis had more than enough opportunity to stop the ball coming in, and then were comprehensively outmuscled in the area.
Not long after, Duke had another opportunity gifted to him by the All Whites backline, as they left him all along in the box. Fortunately for them, the striker perhaps didn’t realise just how much time he had and miscontrolled the ball.
Having been excellent early on, New Zealand could not get out. The Socceroos had numerous half chances and a goal was ruled out, correctly, when Martin Boyle turned home a cross.
In response, a Chris Wood header was the best that the Kiwis could offer.
After the break, the Socceroos kicked up the tempo and found success.
Luongo and Connor Metcalfe were pulling the strings in midfield, and the pair combined with the best move of the game, only for Kiwi keeper Michael Woud to save well.
Moments later, Metcalfe created an even better opportunity for Boyle, but the keeper to came out sharply and denied Australia again.
The inevitable subs came around the hour mark, but sparked the Socceroos into life.
Craig Goodwin, introduced on the left, had an immediate impact to force a chance for Ryan Strain, before Irvine nodded in the second to settle the result. Again, the Kiwis will question how simply they were breached, with the midfielder under little pressure inside the six yard box at a corner.
Borrello, tasked with making an impression up front, could have done that late on, but instead hit the post with an open goal.
dasilva
Roar Guru
It’s a shame that Luongo ever dropped out of the picture and he showed what we were missing If I had a criticism of Ange Postecoglou reign was that Luongo the best player of the Asian cup lost his place in the starting XI and instead we have a highly conservative Milligan/Jedinak double pivot. This result in Australian having possession but looking toothless and coincide with poorer performance and stumbling over the line in WCQ. It seems counter to Ange progressive attacking footballs Afterwards Luongo career took a downturn in his club career when it seems like he was destined for bigger things
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
So you watch his club but you didnt watch the match. I dont watch HIbernian no position to comment on his form. I do know a coach that doesnt start Lewis Miller must be completely bonkers. La Fondre is old and past it whats he doing there he is a goal area hog and provides nothing else .
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
So why didnt the Serbian club get him in the first place. The Danish club has been ripped off here, he has left on a free once he was established and rejected the club that gave him his first European break extension offer.
Micko
Roar Rookie
Sage has sold off Glory Grem???! :shocked:
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
I think I meant to say Jackson Irvine scored the same type of goal of Connor Metcalfe hit the post with. Having watched the full match, the reason the Kiwis had so little is they had the beast MIller on the flank with their best attacking options when they had the energy in the first half. How fair is it England faced the super slow Z grade backline , and NZ got to face the beast Miller, plus other upgrades in Circati and Behich. NZ also had to compete with the lesser beast on left wing Bos. Is Bos a left winger , if you have a beast that can come and do that from left back why not include a left winger as well particularly as Bos spoilt some big opportunities with slow passing, like the Boyle offside. I dont think the NZ coach is all there so slow to get his subs on, he should have made 5 changes when Miller was taken off and then there was no extra time just as they had all the subs on, and why didnt Arnie play more of the rest of the squad. Silvera didnt get a chance. Arnie has the players Miller and Bos to dominate on the field even against great athletes like England. In fact these two would be incredible at the rugby world cup as well.
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
wrote an incredible article on him that editors didn’t approve (alot of info on how and why he was passed on by multiple a league clubs and how he got to serbia have gotten to know him reasonably well and hes easily in the top 3 midfielders in the league. would expect him to move on at season end, hes attracting a lot of interest in europe and can see him moving for 3-5 million dollars
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
should be moved on given his age and 'influence' he has over that squad - unfortunately management is very weak. Argentina have solid depth in attacking positions
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
zero issue with a player going to saudi arabia (especially when they can earn 4-5 times their regular salary) the life of a football player is only 10 years, go get that money. hhhhhhhhhhowever moving to that country should be the death of your career internationally. several high profile players who play over there have been awful for there national teams in the international breaks this year (no coincidence that it has to do with the poor fitness levels and heat over there) - they struggle when they come back to europe and even south america
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
ronaldo shouldve been moved on a while ago by portugal, he completely alters the way the team plays (or should be playing) - unfortunately there coaches have no backbone in jettisoning him. senegal have several wingers/forwards that play in much better leagues than saudi arabia - mane is replaceable given their depth in those positions. everyone is aware of my relationship with craig, but sometimes you have to make decisions with your head rather than your heart
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
i mentioned i didnt watch the match :angry: boyle is not in great form for his club -hes played several matches and scored 1 goal and no assists and hes an attacking player in a club that is closer to relegation than the premiership not sure many international sides in the world would pick an attacking player with those stats
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
Being a clear top two in a small confederation meant Aus NZ was the big rivalry playing off for everything including the world cup . USA Mexico will always have that. Brazil and Argentina will always have that.Australia and NZ its like Spain and Morocco they might be next door, share a world cup and history but they are not playing each other for the Moor cup or anything. Bigger confederations Europe, Asia, Africa you cant focus on a rival you might not meet them in qualification for 20 years.
Stevo
Roar Rookie
Brandon Borrello :shocked: :shocked: :sick: :unhappy: Imagine missing that when a goal was need to progress to the next stage of a WC campaign. Unforgivable. He should never again play for the Roos :crying: :crying: :crying:
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
The crowd seemed to be full of Kiwis, I assume that was because the Australians had the other match with England to go to and couldn't be bothered to go to another match. Kiwis they get hired as others opposition and go all over the place.
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
Should add, the second young gun who scored for the junior team was Bailey Brantham, a Mariners academy lad but he also came through the FQ system. He was a Moreton Bay junior, Futsal rep player. Pity he escaped Roar but he’s obviously done well at Mariners. Expect to see more of him with CCM.
chris1
Roar Rookie
The upset babies win is a good description.
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
Can I suggest that Viduka's strength was not so much in scoring goals and doing the obvious high profile stuff. His movement off the ball and ability to create gaps in opposition defence and his consistency as a target me for other players to run off were his weapons, but just not glamour stuff.
Grem
Roar Rookie
It looks like his time will come when the player he was bought to replace, leaves.
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
You should see the football he is playing for Ipswich Punter. He is running their midfield and setting up goals. He's a class act
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
young and inexperienced, give the kid time
Garry
Roar Rookie
how did Souttar get given Duke's goal too ?