The Socceroos have beaten Jordan 2-1, but will have to improve if they want to defeat the United Arab Emirates in next week’s World Cup playoffs.
The Socceroos are gearing up for next week’s World Cup playoffs against the United Arab Emirates with a 2-1 victory over Jordan in Qatar.
Slack defending gave Socceroos a chance to take the lead with 18 minutes played, but Jordan’s cross from the left flank was fumbled in front of the goal and easily dealt with by the opposition.
The worrying lack of creativity meant that the Socceroos needed goals on set pieces to secure victory in the friendly on Thursday morning.
Defender Bailey Wright headed home a well-placed Craig Goodwin to equalize five minutes before the break.
Australia’s improved performance in the second half was rewarded with a win from winger Awer Mabil in the 68th minute after Jordan failed to get a corner.
But while the victory was a boost to confidence after a disappointing end to their group campaign, the Socceroos will have to improve in all areas if they want to defeat the United Arab Emirates in the sudden death of next Wednesday to move on to next week’s playoff against Peru. in which the winner will qualify for the World Cup.
“There’s still a lot of work to be done,” Socceroos coach Graham Arnold told Network 10.
“We will come back and review the game. There is still a lot of work to be done.
“We have six more days before the UAE match. (There will be no) days off, it’s all work, and we’ll do well.”
Instead of picking his top 11, Arnold experimented with his lineup against Jordan, giving Central Coast Mariners defender Kye Rowles his first game and also starting with a number of other marginal players, including Central Wright. left-back Jason Davidson, midfielder. Kenny Dougall and striker Nick D’Agostino.
It caused a somewhat disjointed start, with Jordan taking advantage to advance in the 18th minute with a long-range effort from Al-Tamari.
Helped by the lack of urgency of the Socceroos defense to reduce their time and space on the ball, Al-Tamari unleashed a first shot from outside the penalty in front that exhausted extended goalkeeper Mat Ryan on his way to the bottom of the net. .
Jordan should probably have put their team up another goal after 39 minutes, but some great goalkeeping by Wright kept the visitors in the game.
However, the referee said he was following the game and as the VAR system was not used, Jordan’s justified complaints fell on deaf ears.
After a truce, the Socceroos jumped immediately, with Wright tying with a powerful header from Goodwin’s free kick.
Jordan had a great opportunity to score following a counterattack after 80 minutes, but Socceroos’s shot from the left sailed high over the bar.
But with only Ryan goalkeeper to beat, substitute Yazan Al-Naimat failed to score.
The missed opportunity was costly, with the Socceroos taking the lead eight minutes later.
The goal came again to a stopped ball, with Jordan unable to face a corner,
Finally, the ball fell to Mabil, who scored from close range. The goal remained even though Jordan claimed Mabil was in an offside position.
On a positive note for the Socceroos, lower midfielder Aaron Mooy, who has not played a game since February, lasted about an hour before being replaced by Frenchman Denis Genreau.
Mooy looked great 50 minutes into the match after stopping a shot by the visitors’.
Australia 2 (Wright 40 ‘, Mabil 68’) d Jordan 1 (Al-Tamari 17 ‘) at Al-Janoub Stadium.
Soccer players: Ryan, Karacic, Wright, Rowles, Davidson (Behich 46 ‘), Dougall (Irvine 46’), Mooy (Genreau 62 ‘), McGree (Hrustic 73’), Mabil (Tilio 87 ‘), D’Agostino (Maclaren 73’) ),), Goodwin.