Socceroos open 2019 Asian Cup campaign with 1-0 defeat to lowly Jordan

THE Socceroos’ Asian Cup defence is off to a grim start after a humbling and somewhat contentious opening 1-0 loss to Jordan in the United Arab Emirates. RE-LIVE THE ACTION IN OUR LIVE BLOG.

Despite have almost 80 per cent of the ball, the Socceroos fell to Jordan

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The Socceroos’ Asian Cup defence is off to a grim start after a humbling and somewhat contentious opening 1-0 loss to Jordan in the United Arab Emirates.

In a match supposed to demonstrate the strengths of Australia’s new attacking set-up, they were outfought and ultimately outplayed last night despite finishing with 77 per cent possession.

The absence of key personnel including Martin Boyle, Mat Leckie, and in particular Aaron Mooy, was keenly felt at Al Ain’s Hazza bin Zayed Stadium, where rising Jordanian star Musa al-Taamari led an early onslaught that yielded Anas Bani Yaseen’s solitary goal.

And though Graham Arnold’s side fought admirably after the break and nearly scored at the death, the new coach has plenty to ponder ahead of their next two Group B games against Palestine and Syria, though both sides would be right to feel aggrieved at not being awarded a penalty following two separate handball appeals.

This shaped as the first competitive test of Arnold’s rotating front three, on this occasion featuring Jamie Maclaren in the absence of certain starter Andrew Nabbout, who picked up a groin strain in Saturday’s final training session.

Robbie Kruse could do little to prevent the upset.

Despite have almost 80 per cent of the ball, the Socceroos fell to Jordan

In a pre-match broadcast interview Graham Arnold promised to “press high and suffocate the life out of them in their half”.

In short, it was not an accurate description of what followed.

Vital Borkelmans’ Jordan had started the tournament off the back of just one win in their last five friendlies.

But they proved difficult to break down here – a predicament not helped by Australia’s nervousness and the midfield industry of Khalil Bani Attiah – and dangerously quick on the counter-attack.

Tom Rogic was forced to drop deep though was clearly up for it, executing an excellent chase and tackle early in proceedings.

The first shot of the game came from the opponents via Yousef Al-Rawashdeh, whose 11th-minute long-range drive forced Mat Ryan into a reflex save.

The Socceroos goalkeeper demanded his teammates “talk” as they probed for an opening, and Robbie Kruse provided one for Awer Mabil, whose near-post snapshot was punched clear by veteran custodian Amer Shafi.

But Jordan were on the prowl, utilising fleet-footed 21-year-old al-Taamari as the primary hassler, and it was only a matter of time before they found some joy.

In the 26th minute, an inswinging al-Taamari corner found Bani Yaseen and the defender buried it, before a sea of red swarmed into ecstasy.

Two minutes later al-Taamari drew a foul off Trent Sainsbury and Baha Abdel-Rahman’s terrific free-kick was tipped out by an even better Ryan save.

Tomi Rogic is beaten to the ball by Jordan's feras Shilbaya.

The dreaded injury curse threatened again when Massimo Luongo’s bloody head was bandaged after copping a wayward elbow and Rogic momentarily went down with what appeared to be a rolled ankle.

Rattled and on the ropes, the Socceroos’ saving grace seemed to arrive a minute before halftime when Feras Shelbaieh appeared to handball in the area while blocking a cross.

Had the video assistant referee been in operation in the group stage of this tournament, and not just from the quarter-finals onwards, it may have been awarded.

Same could be said 15 minutes from time when Aziz Behich appeared to handball.

A tactical rethink was required, and Arnold introduced Rhyan Grant for Josh Risdon with instant impact, and Kruse was soon substituted for Chris Ikonomidis.

Jordan players celebrate their winning goal.

Jordan are on top of the group after their huge upset of the Socceroos

By the 74th minute Arnold had made all three subs, bringing Jackson Irvine on for Luongo.

They blazed forward, shifting the Jordanian defensive fortress this way and that, and Rogic inexplicably directed a point-blank shot skywards before Mabil unleashed a belter that beat Shafi but hit the post.

By the time Maclaren headed a sitter to Mars and Jordan’s players began milking time, the contest was seemingly out of reach.

The Scotland-based striker kept trying for a maiden international goal anyway and with three minutes remaining finally found the finish he was after some nice build-up play, only to be called offside.

In the dying seconds of stoppage-time, Ikonomidis forced Shafi into a quick stop and the ‘keeper repelled Irvine’s follow-up.

Originally published as Socceroos open 2019 Asian Cup campaign with 1-0 defeat to lowly Jordan

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