Asian Cup live Socceroos v Uzbekistan: Australia top Group B after 1-1 draw
Australia have finished top of Group B despite a late goal to Uzbekistan holding the Aussies to a 1-1 draw. The performances in the group stage have been questioned by a former Socceroo.
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Aided by a controversial penalty, the Socceroos have secured top spot in their Asian Cup group with a 1-1 draw against an impressive Uzbekistan.
Having already booked a berth in the knockout stages, Australia needed to only avoid defeat at Al-Janoub Stadium lock in first place in Group B and ensure a potentially easier round-of-16 opponent.
And while they achieved that, the Australians struggled for the third match in succession in attack.
Former Socceroo Luke Wilkshire isn’t convinced with Australia as yet.
“There is no fluency, we are not creating a great deal of clear-cut opportunities, which is a concern,” Wilkshire said.
And for the first in the seven matches, the Socceroos also conceded a goal, with Uzbekistan substitute Azizbek Turgunboev’s 78th-minute header levelling scores after winger Martin Boyle’s spot kick had given Australia the lead in first-half stoppage-time.
The draw was enough for Uzbekistan – who provided the Socceroos with their toughest test of the tournament thus far – to secure second spot in the group and also reach the round-of-16.
However, it could have been Uzbekistan that topped the group had the Socceroos not been awarded a dubious penalty for a handball offence against Uzbekistan midfielder Odiljon Hamrobekov.in the dying stages of the first half.
Referee Yusuke Araki, of Japan, initially didn’t point to the spot as Socceroos striker Kusini Yengi seemed to glide past a sliding Hamrobekov as he created a golden opportunity that was wasted by Riley McGree.
No Australians appealed for a penalty but on the urging of the VAR, Araki checked the video footage, which showed the ball barely glancing Hamrobekov’s trailing arm as he slid beyond Yengi, who had cut back inside.
Araki then changed his mind and awarded the Socceroos a penalty which was calmly slotted home by Boyle.
However, the Socceroos again struggled to assert themselves in the first half, and if not for some last gasp defending from Harry Souttar, would have gone behind in the 37th minute when Uzbekistan star Otabek Shukurov seemed certain to score with a shot that was expertly blocked by the giant centre-back.
Uzbekistan eventually grabbed a deserved equaliser with 12 minutes of normal time remaining through Turgunboev, who rose high over Aziz Behich to head home a cross from Jaloliddin Masharipov, who was given too much room by right back Nathaniel Atkinson.
Socceroos coach Graham Arnold made five changes to the team that started in last Thursday’s 1-0 win over Syria.
One was forced, with striker Yengi getting the nod ahead of Melbourne Victory marksman Bruno Fornaroli as the replacement for injured centre-forward Mitch Duke.
Two changes were made to Australia’s back four, with right fullback Atkinson and central defender Kye Rowles coming in for Gethin Jones and Cameron Burgess respectively.
As expected, attacking midfielder McGree was given his first start of the tournament, at the expense of Connor Metcalfe, while there was also a second change in Australia’s engine room, with Keanu Baccus recalled and Aiden O’Neill dropping back to the bench.
“(They are) changes I believe that we’ve got the depth in the squad to make, and to give players the opportunity to experience a tournament program, the way the Asian Cup and the World Cup are run,” Arnold said.
Follow along below to see how the action unfolded.
12.30PM: JOB DONE
Australia have topped Group B after a 1-1 draw with Uzbekistan, but there are still question marks over the performance.
Nevertheless, Graham Arnold’s side will move on to the round of 16 to face the second-placed side of Group F.
12.20PM: BRUNO’S IMMEDIATE IMPACT
Some magnificent dancing feet from substitute Bruno Fornaroli helped create a chance for Connor Metcalfe.
Fornaroli managed to hold off one defender for the ball before nutmegging another, then sending a pass forward to progress the Socceroos attack.
The ball ended up at Metcalfe’s feet but he was quickly shut down by the Uzbekistan defence.
12.12PM: THERE’S THE EQUALISER!
Australia have conceded their first goal in over 10 hours of football as a fierce header from Azizbek Turgunboev proved too powerful for Mat Ryan to keep out of his net.
We’re in for an intriguing last 15 minutes now.
Will the Socceroos push for a winner or try to defend top spot of Group B?
12.05PM: GOAL SCORER DEPARTS
Connor Metcalfe has been injected into the game for Australia’s goal scorer Martin Boyle.
We’re into the last 20 minutes of the contest now and the Socceroos have settled again, but can they see out the match?
11.53PM: OFFSIDE FLAG SAVES SOCCEROOS
Uzbekistan have the ball in Australia’s net but again the offside flag goes up and the goal is disallowed.
Umar Eshmurodov got on the end of a perfectly shaped set piece to head the ball past Ryan in goal, but the run was just mistimed.
The Socceroos are under the pump and that 1-0 lead is hanging by a thread.
11.45PM: UZBEKISTAN INCHES FROM DRAWING LEVEL
A foul on the edge of the box from Harry Souttar cost him a yellow card and almost cost Australia their advantage.
The resulting free kick went inches from the top right corner and had Maty Ryan beaten.
A warning shot for the Aussies.
11.25PM: SOCCEROOS LEAD AT THE HALF
After a cagey start, the game came to life in the last 10-15 minutes as Australia took the game to their opponents.
Martin Boyle’s strike from the spot separates the nations at the break.
After the controversial decision, @MartinBoyle9 makes no mistake from the spot 🥶
— Subway Socceroos (@Socceroos) January 23, 2024
🎥 @10FootballAU#AUSvUZB#Socceroos#AsianCup2023#DifferentBreedpic.twitter.com/LqKLjQ0vzN
11.15PM: PENALTY AND GOAL FOR AUSTRALIA!
The VAR check goes in favour of the Aussies this time, with Yengi dribbling the ball into Odiljon Hamrobekov’s supporting arm as he slid in to stop the Australian striker.
Martin Boyle stood up to take the spot kick and sent the keeper the wrong way.
Commentator Simon Hill had some sympathy for the Uzbekistan defender.
“Where on earth do you put your arms? I know you are supposed to tuck them in behind your back, but goodness me, we are asking defenders to be Harry Houdini”
1-0 to the Socceroos!
11.10PM: MCGREE FLUFFS BEST CHANCE SO FAR
Some magical footwork from Kusini Yengi allowed him to set up Riley McGree, who with the goal at his mercy fluffed his lines and sent the ball wide.
But hang on, a VAR check is looking at a potential penalty for handball in the lead up...
11.05PM: RESOLUTE DEFENCE UNDER PRESSURE
Australia have now gone over 10 hours and nine minutes without conceding a goal, which is a national team record.
But that defence was almost broken with a lunging Harry Souttar having to throw himself in the way of Otabek Shukurov’s strike that was bound for the back of the net.
Uzbekistan are currently looking the more dangerous of the two sides.
10.55PM: AUSSIES’ CRY FOR RED CARD DENIED
The Socceroos might count themselves unlucky to still be facing 11 men after Martin Boyle was taken down while attempting to get in behind the Uzbekistan defence.
Umar Eshmurodov was instead shown a yellow card and the VAR did not intervene.
The resulting free kick from Riley McGree was blazed over the bar
10.50PM: WILL SOMEBODY SHOOT?
Both sides are yet to register a shot on goal after 20 minutes of action.
Australia have had the better of possession with 65% of the ball so far, but Uzbekistan are working their way into the contest.
This one won’t be easy for the Socceroos.
10.40PM: SOCCEROOS HAVE BALL IN NET
Kusini Yengi thought for a brief moment he might have scored on Asian Cup starting debut, but an offside in the build up denies Australia the lead.
We’re still at 0-0 after 10 minutes.
10.37PM: AUSSIES PEPPERING, BUT NOT IN TOTAL CONTROL
Australia have started the match the better of the two nations, challenging Uzbekistan aerially with some threatening crosses into the box.
Uzbekistan however have looked dangerous on the counter attack, with Harry Souttar having to recover from his own giveaway in defence to deny the underdogs a chance on goal.
10.30PM: WE’RE AWAY
Let’s see what the five changes bring to Graham Arnold’s side as the Socceroos look to sweep Group B with a third straight win.
It’ll be an interesting 90 minutes!
10.15PM: FORM LINES
Australia are looking for their sixth consecutive clean sheet and are coming into their clash with Uzbekistan off a 1-0 win over Syria.
The Aussies managed just one shot on target in that match, which turned out to be the winner from Jackson Irvine in the 59th minute.
Uzbekistan will be feeling very confident after a 3-0 victory over India and can overtake the Socceroos with a win tonight.
9.30PM: BRUNO SNUBBED START
Graham Arnold has swung five changes to the Socceroos side that took on Syria, but Bruno Fornaroli has missed out on a starting spot.
Instead Kusini Yengi has been preferred to lead the line for the injured Mitch Duke, while Riley McGree adds some more attacking flair in midfield.
Keanu Baccus, Nathaniel Atkinson and Kye Rowles are the other inclusions.
A first #Socceroos start for Kusini Yengi! 🙌
— Subway Socceroos (@Socceroos) January 23, 2024
📋 The striker is one of five changes made to the starting line-up by Graham Arnold.
🇦🇺 v 🇺🇿 - 23.1.24, 10:30pm AEDT
📱💻📺 Live on Channel 10, Paramount+, 10 Play#AUSvUZB#AsianCup2023#DifferentBreedpic.twitter.com/yHCsrrCKr9
9.00PM: WHAT THE RESULT MEANS
A draw or win would ensure the Aussies stay in first spot of Group B and face the top third-placed nation out of Groups A, C and D.
A loss would leave the Socceroos second in their group, with a round of 16 clash against the second-placed nation in Group F looming.
EARLIER: ARNOLD ON THE ATTACK
- AFP
A prickly Graham Arnold has hit back at suggestions that his Australia team are too defensive as the title contenders look to end the Asian Cup group stage with a bang.
The Socceroos have reached the last 16 in Qatar even before Tuesday’s final group match against Uzbekistan thanks to a 2-0 win over India and 1-0 defeat of Syria.
The stodgy Syria win came from a neat Jackson Irvine swivel and shot just before the hour - Australia’s only shot on target all game. Syria also had one shot on target.
Arnold said afterwards that “clean sheets win tournaments”, but on the eve of the Uzbekistan game said that comment had been unfairly misconstrued.
“My methods are playing attacking football, putting high pressure on,” he said on Monday.
“I got asked a question about winning this tournament and I said clean sheets win you this tournament.
“I think probably the Australian media read that the wrong way, as normal. “What’s important is that the players know their roles and their jobs. We’ve played two teams where we spent a lot of time in their half.
“We’ve created quite a number of chances and individually we’ve not finished that off.” Arnold, who took Australia to the last 16 of the Qatar World Cup before giving eventual champions Argentina a scare in a 2-1 defeat, will be missing first-choice forward Mitchell Duke against Uzbekistan because of a hamstring niggle.
That means tweaking his attacking line-up, but returning to the earlier theme, he again took issue at a question suggesting his side are too negative.
“As I said, I don’t know where you get from that we are a defensive team,” he told one reporter.
“We have a job to do defensively,” said the 60-year-old, whose side will want to top the group to get a theoretically easier run through the knockouts.
“We are an attacking team that knows how to defend.”
Originally published as Asian Cup live Socceroos v Uzbekistan: Australia top Group B after 1-1 draw
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