Asian Cup 2015: Socceroos’ loss to South Korea a reality check for Australia’s hopes

HAVING strolled to victory in their two previous 2015 Asian Cup matches, this was the reality check the Socceroos needed to have.

Australian coach Ange Postecoglou. The Australian Socceroos vs the Korea Republic at Brisbane Stadium. Pic Peter Wallis

THIS was the reality check the Socceroos needed to have.

Having strolled to victory in their two previous 2015 Asian Cup matches, the Socceroos had suddenly gone from the doghouse to the penthouse in the matter of days.

Their ordinary run of form pre-Asian Cup had been quickly forgotten as the nation celebrated respective 4-1 and 4-0 thrashings of Kuwait and Oman.

But with all due respect to the Kuwaitis and Omanis, Saturday night was the Socceroos’ first real test of the tournament.

REPORT: SOCCEROOS BROUGHT DOWN BY SOUTH KOREA

AS IT HAPPENED: SOCCEROOS 0, SOUTH KOREA 1

PLAYER RATINGS: SOCCEROOS V SOUTH KOREA

KOSSIE: ‘HOSTING ASIAN CUP ALREADY VINDICATED’

Ange Postecoglou will have learned a lot from the defeat to South Korea.

And unfortunately for the Australians, they came up short against a well-organised South Korean side inspired by their midfield marvel and skipper Ki Sung-yueng, who led his side to a 1-0 win.

Yes, there was time-wasting and some other irritating tactics from the South Koreans that frustrated the Socceroos and the majority of the fans, but there was no doubting their organisation and discipline.

Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou rolled the dice in the selection stakes, starting without key attacking trio Tim Cahill, Mathew Leckie and Robbie Kruse.

All three were on the park by the end of the match and often found themselves in dangerous positions.

However, it wasn’t Australia’s night and Postecoglou may regret in the long run not starting with at least one of Cahill, Leckie or Kruse.

Postecoglou may also reflect on his decision to start with Matthew Spiranovic, considering the Australians had already booked a quarter-final berth and didn’t need to run the risk of him picking up another booking and earning a one-game ban.

But all is not lost

Tomi Juric struggled to make an impact in attack for Australia.

The Socceroos and Postecoglou would have learnt a lot from the defeat.

If they needed to be brought back to earth after their super start to the tournament, the Socceroos were in Brisbane.

On the positive side, midfielder Massimo Luongo was again excellent and it’s perhaps only a matter of time before he leaves Swindon Town and moves to a bigger club.

But Luongo’s best was not enough in the searing heat.

Trent Sainsbury sums up the emotion after the loss in a humid Brisbane.

Apart from the humidity and the state of the Suncorp Stadium pitch, the Socceroos won’t mind playing China in Thursday night’s quarter-final in Brisbane.

But a likely semi-final date with defending champions Japan await, should the Socceroos beat China and the Samurai Blue progress as expected.

And that’s a game that will potentially come a match too early for Australia’s liking.

Originally published as Asian Cup 2015: Socceroos’ loss to South Korea a reality check for Australia’s hopes