Asian Cup 2015: Socceroos beaten by South Korea, possible semi-final with Japan looms
SOCCEROOS coach Ange Postecoglou has bristled at suggestions tinkering with his line-up cost Australia top spot in its group after losing to South Korea.
Asian Cup
Don't miss out on the headlines from Asian Cup. Followed categories will be added to My News.
SOCCEROOS coach Ange Postecoglou has bristled at suggestions tinkering with his line-up cost Australia top spot in its group at the 2015 Asian Cup.
Inspired by the brilliance of former Brisbane schoolboy Ki Sung-yueng, South Korea handed hosts Australia their first defeat of the 2015 Asian Cup.
While the 1-0 loss at a packed Suncorp Stadium was academic in the sense that the Socceroos had already qualified for the quarter-finals courtesy of two earlier Group A wins, it relegated the Australians to second place in their pool behind South Korea, who made it three wins from three matches.
VIDEO: THE MOMENTS THAT MATTERED IN SOCCEROOS LOSS
PLAYER RATINGS: CAST YOUR VOTE IN OUR INTERACTIVE GRADES
AS-IT-HAPPENED: RELIVE THE ACTION FROM SUNCORP STADIUM
ANALYSIS: SOCCEROOS’ WAKE-UP CALL
ANGE SLAMS PITCH, BACKS SELECTION
It means that instead of heading to Melbourne for a quarter-final, the Socceroos will stay in Brisbane to meet Group B winners China on Thursday night.
The defeat has also put them on a collision course with tournament favourites Japan. Provided Japan progress through the tournament as expected, the Socceroos will come head-to-head them at the semi-final stage, provided Australia beats China on Thursday,
Postecoglou again tinkered with a winning side, making four changes to the team that started in the 4-0 win over Oman.
“We didn’t rotate players tonight, we had a team we thought were capable of winning the game,” the coach said.
“We have three games in eight days and we knew tonight was going to be a difficult game because of the (hot) conditions.
“We had some fresh players and we thought they’d give us the best chance of victory.”
As expected, captain Mile Jedinak missed a second successive match with an ankle injury, with Mark Milligan again deputising in the holding midfield role.
Milligan also captained the team, with regular vice-captain Tim Cahill among players who started against Oman left out in Brisbane.
The other three were fullback Jason Davidson, and attacking weapons Robbie Kruse and Mathew Leckie.
Coming into the starting team were Aziz Behich, James Troisi and Nathan Burns.
Cahill, Leckie and Kruse all entered the contest in the second-half, but could not find the necessary magic to keep Australia on top of the group.
Provided Japan progress through the tournament as expected, the Socceroos will come head-to-head them at the semi-final stage, provided Australia beats China on Thursday,
And that’s no certainty given the form the Chinese have shown thus far in the tournament.
Making the Socceroos’ task tougher will be the unavailability of key defender Matt Spiranovic, who was booked for the second time in the tournament and as a result will serve a one-match suspension.
Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou again tinkered with a winning side, making four changes to the team that started in the 4-0 win over Oman.
As expected, captain Mile Jedinak missed a second successive match with an ankle injury, with Mark Milligan again deputising in the holding midfield role.
Milligan also captained the team, with regular vice-captain Tim Cahill among players who started against Oman left out last night.
The other three were fullback Jason Davidson, and attacking weapons Robbie Kruse and Mathew Leckie.
Coming into the starting team were Aziz Behich, James Troisi and Nathan Burns.
Cahill, Leckie and Kruse all entered the contest in the second half, but could not find the necessary magic to keep Australia on top of the group.
The Socceroos had their chances, but the excellence of goalkeeper Kim Jin-hyeon, plus a lack of potency in attack cost them.
The South Koreans did what they needed to, and also infuriated the Socceroos and the crowd of almost 49,000 with perceived time wasting tactics.
But there was no doubting the class of man-of-the-match Ki, who attended John Paul College for four years during his teens before forging a career that now has him playing in the English Premier League for Swansea.
“Every time I play against Australia, in Brisbane, is special,” he said.
South Korea took the lead in the 33rd minute thanks largely to the artistry of their skipper Ki, who produced a textbook pass that caught Ivan Franjic and the rest of the Socceroos defence napping.
The ball found Lee Keun-Ho, who then delivered a low near-post cross that Lee Jeong-Hyeop touch passed diving goalkeeper Mat Ryan to put South Korea ahead.
The Socceroos almost hit back a few minutes after a brilliant run on the right flank from the in-form Massimo Luongo.
The Swindon Town midfielder then darted into the penalty area before cutting the ball into the path of James Troisi.
However, Troisi drove his shot into the side netting, much to the confusion of ground officials, with the goal celebration lighting up on the big screen.
It was excited as the crowd got, with the South Koreans spoiling the party.
The ball found Lee Keun-Ho, who then delivered a low near-post cross that Lee Jeong-Hyeop touch passed diving goalkeeper Mat Ryan to put South Korea ahead.
The Socceroos almost hit back a few minutes after a brilliant run on the right flank from the in-form Massimo Luongo.
The Swindon Town midfielder then darted into the penalty area before cutting the ball into the path of James Troisi.
However, Troisi drove his shot into the side netting, much to the confusion of ground officials, with the goal celebration lighting up on the big screen.
It was excited as the crowd got, with the South Koreans spoiling the party.
Originally published as Asian Cup 2015: Socceroos beaten by South Korea, possible semi-final with Japan looms
Fowler keen to clear the air on Paris flop
Accusations of “pampering” were thrown at the Matildas following their disappointing exit at the Paris Olympic Games.
Huge concerns for new AFC Women’s Champions League
It hasn’t kicked off yet but FIFPRO Asia have serious concerns about the financial strain the AFC Women’s Champions League will have on clubs, athletes’ welfare and disruptions to domestic competitions.