‘Absolute catastrophe’: Socceroos rocked in qualifier madness
The Socceroos have fallen apart in spectacular circumstances with their world cup qualification campaign on a knife’s edge.
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The Socceroos have fallen apart in spectacular circumstances to leave their world cup qualification campaign on a knife’s edge.
Tony Popovic’s team squandered countless chances before two-minutes of madness rocked the Aussie team in their third stage group match against Bahrain in Riffa.
It ended with a 2-2 draw that only adds pressure on the Socceroos as they sit with seven points in the group. It is enough for second position — but they are only one point ahead of Bahrain, China, Saudi Arabia and Indonesia. Japan is clear ahead on 16 points.
Popovic was measured in his post-match interview with Paramount Plus after watching his side go from a dominant position to being on the ropes.
“There’s a lot of emotions now because a lot happened in the match,” Popovic said.
“We took the lead early, which was great. There were a couple of really good of chances to make it 2-0 in the second half that we didn’t capitalise on.
“We gave away a couple of goals quickly and then showed great character to get back.
“It’s an important point. It keeps us in second place and we move forward to the next window.”
It had all started so well when Kusini Yengi scored after just 38 seconds — the quickest goal Australia has scored since 2013.
But they bottled it from there.
It took a late sucker punch goal from Yengi to right the ship when he stepped up to be the hero with a goal in the 95th minute to steal a point for Australia.
His goal salvaged a result for the Socceroos that perhaps they did not deserve after such a lacklustre second half.
Yengi’s last gasp goal came from a classy cross to the back posted that bobbled down into the path of the Socceroos forward.
Yengi and Craig Goodwin earlier both missed multiple opportunities to extend Australia’s advantage — and they were made to pay in spectacular fashion in the second half.
The final stats showed Australia had eight total shots with four on target. There were other times when final passes missed the mark. Thank goodness for Yengi.
Called into the starting side at the expense of veteran marksman Mitch Duke, the 25-year-old pounced on a weak back pass from Bahrain defender Sayed Baqer before rounding goalkeeper Ebrahim Lutfalla and guiding the ball into the back of the net in the first minute of play.
Yengi should have doubled Australia’s lead in the 24th minute after being fed by midfielder Riley McGree but he was foiled by Lutfalla.
Chances continued to fall Yengi’s way, with the woodwork denying the Portsmouth striker on the hour mark.
A poor first-touch soon after proved costly for Yengi when he had another good opportunity to increase Australia’s lead.
Australia was left to rue those butchered chances.
Mahdi Abduljabbar scored twice in the space of two minutes as a sensational substitute.
Everything changed when Abduljabbar scored with a stunning strike from 40m out in the 75th minute.
He doubled it moments later after a deflection inside the box ended up with the ball rebounding onto his feet at point-blank range.
It was a nightmare for the Socceroos.
“That’s unbelievable. It’s a freakish goal,” Aussie football commentator Simon Hill said on Paramount Plus.
“Australia are absolutely stunned.”
Abduljabbar then twisted the knife with his second.
“Absolute catastrophe,” Hill said.
“What an absolute disaster for Australia.”
Paramount Plus host Scott Mackinnon said it had been “nuts” and called the second half “crazy, crazy stuff”.
Football journalist Vince Rugari posted on Twitter: “Disaster with a capital everything.
“This one’s on the players. Just should not be in this position in a million years.”
Bahrain is proving to be a nightmare for Australia after they also won 1-0 in their earlier qualifier on the Gold Coast in September.
There was nothing keeper Mat Ryan could do about either of the goals.
The first long-range strike caught him well off his line after a poor clearing header fell to Abduljabbar.
The midfielder pounced on defender Burgess’ clumsy attempt to control a long ball and then scored one of the best goals he will score in his career.
Worse to follow in the 77th minute when Abduljabbar netted from close range after a cross from Mahdi Al-Humaidan was deflected on to the post by debutant Socceroos defender Hayden Matthews.
Abduljabbar was first to the rebound, with his second of the contest putting Australia on the brink of disaster.
It was tough 45 minutes for Socceroos fans to watch and Aussie football great Andy Harper said on Paramount there had been a general lack of aggression from the team.
Socceroos great Alex Wilkinson said Australia should have had three or four goals.
Second place in the group will guarantee automatic qualification for the 2026 World Cup.
Popovic made six changes to the side that started in last Thursday’s 0-0 draw with Saudi Arabia in Melbourne
Captain and goalkeeper Ryan started for the first time since September’s departure of former coach Graham Arnold, replacing Joe Gauci, who had been the Socceroos’ gloveman in the first three games of Tony Popovic’s reign as national boss.
The Socceroos will next play Indonesia in March.
— with NCA NewsWire
Originally published as ‘Absolute catastrophe’: Socceroos rocked in qualifier madness
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