Australia
3
Match Complete
Lebanon
0
| T. Sainsbury |  | 82' | ||
| 70' | | B. Jradi | ||
| M. Leckie |  | 68' | ||
| M. Boyle | | 41' | ||
| M. Boyle | | 19' |
| 19 | Shots | 3 | ||
| 7 | On Target | 0 | ||
| 11 | Fouls | 7 | ||
| 11 | Corners | 2 | ||
| 1 | Offsides | 1 | ||
| 0 | Red Cards | 0 | ||
| 1 | Yellow Cards | 1 |
Tim Cahill will play his final match in Australian colours when the Socceroos have their final tune-up ahead of the Asian Cup against Lebanon in Sydney. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 7:30pm (AEDT).
The Australian team, under the relatively new management of Graham Arnold, have plenty to prove in this match before they depart of the United Arab Emirates and an Asian Cup defence.
It’s been four years since Ange Postecogolou led the nation to that historic triumph on home soil, and since there has been some up and down football played.
Still, the new management of Graham Arnold presents a new dawn and their win over Kuwait away from home was a strong first outing a month ago.
Their performance in Brisbane against South Korea on Saturday night was less so though, with only an injury-time goal allowing the Aussies to walk away with a draw and something to take as a positive out of the contest.
Still, Lebanon are a number of levels below South Korea, and Australia, with plenty of goal-scoring potential up front and Aaron Mooy running things in the midfield, should be able to put a couple of goals on tonight.
Tim Cahill will also take plenty of attention into the contest. This is his farewell match for the country, with the nation’s best ever likely to only play the final five or ten minutes. Still, it would be quite something to see him bang a goal in.
Lebanon are a side on the rise, although a long way off the pace. Ranked just outside the top 80 in the world, they have qualified for their first major tournament at next year’s Asian Cup.
The Cedars play a 5-4-1 formation, so will be hard to break down at the back if they get their defence going, and a goalless draw against Uzbekistan in their last outing goes to prove that. Watch out for names like Hassan Maatouk and brothers Felix and Alexander Michel if they do manage to get any counter attacks going through Australia’s pressing defence.
Prediction
You’d think Australia will be able to run away with this game against a Lebanese side who are ranked well down the pecking order. They will fight hard, but it’s important for the Socceroos to make something of a statement out of this game.
Australia 2 – Lebanon 0.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of this international friendly from 7:30pm (AEDT) and don’t forget to add a comment in the section below.
Game information
Kick-off: 7:30pm (AEDT)
Venue: ANZ Stadium, Homebush
TV: Live, Fox Sports 503 and TenBoss
Online: Live, Foxtel app, Foxtel now, Tenplay, The Roar live blog
Betting: Australia $1.1,7 Draw $4, Lebanon $17
Overall record: Played 1, Australia 1, Lebanon 0
Last meeting: September 6, 2012 – Australia 3 defeat Lebanon 0
Australia (squad)
Mustafa Amini, Aziz Behich, Martin Boyle, Tim Cahill, Milos Degenek, Alex Gersbach, Craig Goodwin, Rhyan Grant, Jackson Irvine, James Jeggo, Tomi Juric, Matthew Jurman, Mitch Langerak, Mathew Leckie, Massimo Luongo, Awer Mabil, Jamie Maclaren, Mark Milligan, Aaron Mooy, Andrew Nabbout, Josh Risdon, Mathew Ryan, Trent Sainsbury, Danny Vukovic
Lebanon (squad)
Mehdi Khalil, Mostafa Matar, Abbas Hassan, Kassem El Zein, Mootaz Jounaidi, Nour Mansour, Nassar Nassar, Joan Oumari, George Felix Melki, Hassan Samih Chaito, Walid Ismail, Robert Alexander Melki, Mohamad Haidar, Adnan Haidar, Nader Matar, Samir Ayass, Bassel Jradi, Hassan Maatouk (captain), Hassan Ali Chaito, Omar Bugiel Chaaban, Rabih Ataya
Seababoon
Guest
Why does Luke Wilkshire have a tattoo of a penis on his neck? That's the main question of the night
Stevo
Roar Rookie
Surely then 10 is an embarrassment and just as awful as 7 was back then.
Griffo
Roar Guru
It looked like the whole team embraced him. Nice touch.
Jordan Klingsporn
Roar Guru
Farewell Tim Cahill. It seems surreal that we will not see Tim Cahill in the Green and Gold again. A great game and although i wanted 5-0, 3-0 is good. Martin Boyle is so good.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Well, that's going to just about do it here on The Roar for our live coverage of Tim Cahill's final match for the Socceroos. This night was all about Timmy, but the Aussies now turn their attention to the Asian Cup in January as they get on the plane and head to the UAE. Just repeating though, the final score in Homebush, Australia 3 have defeated Lebanon 0. Hopefully you enjoyed the call. The Roar will continue our live coverage of the A-League season from Friday night, so be sure to stick around for that. I'll be on tomorrow night though with the first T20 international between Australia and India at the Gabba. That starts at 6:50pm (AEDT), so join us for that. Bye for now.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thoughts on the match Roarers?
Scott Pryde
Expert
Cahill. "This is the only time you're going to see me cry. "I want to say thankyou. Firstly to my family, for being there from day 1. The sacrifices they have made have kept me playing. "I want to thank my teammates and all the staff I have worked with. Without all you guys, I'll be nothing. The coaches and players who aren't here. Thankyou very much. "Now, the most important people as well are the fans. It was tough for me to play for Australia at the start, but everytime I wore the green and gold, I played with all my hear. Thank you very much Australia."
Jordan Klingsporn
Roar Guru
Watching this on 10 and this presentation is not being broadcasting.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Cahill joined by his family and he will have a guard of honour from his teammates here before walking up onto the podium for a special presentation.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Plenty of emotion on the face of Cahill here. No surprises there.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Martin Boyle talking about how he always likes to get on the ball and make things happen post-match. That much was evident tonight. Plenty of respect from the Lebanese players for Cahill post fulltime here.
Scott Pryde
Expert
FULLTIME That will be the end of that. Tim Cahill's career is over in the Soceroos jersey, and Australia have beaten Lebanon comprehensively 3-0 at ANZ Stadium in their final match before the Asian Cup begins in the UAE come January. Great performance from the Socceroos. Lebanon are a class below South Korea, but they were much better executing up front, and have three goals to show for it. When their defence was called into question, it was up to the task, and the abilities and energy of Martin Boyle and Awer Mabil will give Graham Arnold something to smile about. Australia 3 Lebanon 0
Scott Pryde
Expert
90 + 3' - Free kick from Maatouk. It's fired into the Australian wall, the ball heads out of play and we are running out of time here. Australia 3 Lebanon 0
Scott Pryde
Expert
90 + 2' - Maatouk with a shot from the carpark. It's blocked, then the Cedars win a free kick with Irving committing a bit of a sloppy challenge just outside the penalty area. Australia 3 Lebanon 0
Jordan Klingsporn
Roar Guru
Legend.
Scott Pryde
Expert
90 + 1' - Nabbout, Leckie! He has a shot, but it curls into the post and Lebanon will survive this time. Australia 3 Lebanon 0
Scott Pryde
Expert
90' - Three minutes of stoppage time Game on delay here for the moment though. We have a pitch invader who wants to go and give Cahill a hug. Australia 3 Lebanon 0
Scott Pryde
Expert
90' - Behich with a cross trying to set up Cahill. That was too far forward and it went well behind for a goalkick. Cahill turns and delivers a bit of a spray. Australia 3 Lebanon 0
Scott Pryde
Expert
90' - Poor clearance from Lebanon and Cahill gets a touch here which draws plenty of cheers around the stadium. Cahill in the box and Rhyan Grant wins a throw as the clearance is blocked. Australia 3 Lebanon 0
Scott Pryde
Expert
89' - Jeggo with a through ball on the left for Behich, but he just went a little early on his run and got pinged for being offside. Australia 3 Lebanon 0