NewsBite

Australia vs Kuwait Asian Cup Group A opener in Melbourne

A 22-year-old midfielder playing his first game on home soil stole the show in Australia’s 4-1 Asian Cup opening win against Kuwait on Friday night.

Jai BednallJai Bednall
@jaibednall
5 min read
January 9, 2015 - 6:05PM
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 09: Massimo Luongo of the Socceroos is congratulated by Tim Cahill and his teammates after scoring a goal during the 2015 Asian Cup match between the Australian Socceroos and Kuwait at AAMI Park on January 9, 2015 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 09: Massimo Luongo of the Socceroos is congratulated by Tim Cahill and his teammates after scoring a goal during the 2015 Asian Cup match between the Australian Socceroos and Kuwait at AAMI Park on January 9, 2015 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)

FOLLOW the live coverage of Australia’s Asian Cup opener against Kuwait.

Showers are expected in Melbourne tonight, with a temperature around 17C.

The game starts at 8pm AEDT. Continue the conversation on Twitter @jaibednall

Scroll to the bottom of the page for blow-by-blow coverage.

10pm — MASSIMO MAKES HIS MARK

Tim Cahill could barely believe someone beat him to a header.
Tim Cahill could barely believe someone beat him to a header.

MASSIMO Luongo has made an early case to be the breakout star of the Asian Cup with a man of the match performance in Australia’s 4-1 win against Kuwait.

The 22-year-old, who plays for Swindon Town in England’s League One, provided the assist for Tim Cahill’s opening goal before scoring his own to give the home side a lead it wouldn’t hand back.

Luongo has played just six games for Australia and this was his first on home soil.

“It’s a dream come true. It’s my first game in Australia and I couldn’t be more happy,” he said.

Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou was full of praise for his young charge.

“He’s one of the beneficiaries of what we’ve done over the last 12 months.

“Watching him train I knew he was ready.”

The result sets Australia up in group A, with games to come against Oman and Korea Republic.

The Socceroos won all the statistical indicators, including possession (55 per cent to 45 per cent), shots (14-9), crosses (24-9) and balls in the box (35-12).

“That sets us up for the rest of the group stage,” Luongo said.

“We went a goal down but that showed our Aussie spirit coming back.”

Mile Jedinak, from the penalty spot, and James Troisi were the other Aussies to find the back of the net.

“I think we self destructed in the first few minutes to concede a completely unacceptable goal,” Postecoglou said.

“But the response was great.”

Continue reading for all the highlights from the game in Melbourne.

9.50pm — TROISI ADDS THE ICING

James Troisi fired home Australia’s fourth goal in injury time.
James Troisi fired home Australia’s fourth goal in injury time.

JAMES Troisi has completed an ideal start to the Asian Cup for the Socceroos, scoring an injury time goal to make the final score 4-1.

Mathew Leckie created the opportunity for Troisi at the near post to cap a busy night.

9.30pm — MAT RYAN’S INCREDIBLE SAVE

Mat Ryan just made a key intercept to maintain Australia’s 3-1 lead.
Mat Ryan just made a key intercept to maintain Australia’s 3-1 lead.

AFTER a more than difficult World Cup, Aussie goalkeeper Mat Ryan looks determined to make a difference in the Asian Cup.

He just pulled off an unbelievable save to preserve Australia’s 3-1 lead, tipping a shot from Kuwait’s Fahed Al Ebrahim on to the crossbar.

Australia has made another substitution, bringing Nathan Burns on for Robbie Kruse.

Burns made an immediate impact, hitting the crossbar with a header that very nearly gave Australia a 4-1 lead.

9.20pm — JEDINAK MAKES IT THREE FROM THE SPOT

MILE Jedinak has eased the pressure in Australia’s group A opener by pushing the home side’s lead to 3-1 with a calmly taken penalty.

Robbie Kruse was brought down inside the box by a Kuwait defender and the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot.

Ange Postecoglou made his first substitution soon after, replacing Tim Cahill with Tom Juric.

Robbie Kruse wins a penalty for the Socceroos.
Robbie Kruse wins a penalty for the Socceroos.
Was it pre-match advice from Tony Abbott that inspired Mile Jedinak?
Was it pre-match advice from Tony Abbott that inspired Mile Jedinak?

8.45pm — LUONGO’S PERFECT HEADER

Massimo Luongo beats Tim Cahill to the ball and sends his header into the back of the net.
Massimo Luongo beats Tim Cahill to the ball and sends his header into the back of the net.

AUSTRALIA has made a superb recovery to enter half-time with a 2-1 lead against Kuwait.

After providing the assist for Tim Cahill’s goal, Massimo Luongo grabbed one for himself.

The 22-year-old midfielder, who was perhaps a surprise selection ahead of Marc Bresciano in midfield, rose high to direct a perfect header into the net.

“He’s been outstanding, he’s been one of our brighter lights in the first half,” Mark Bosnich said.

Ivan Franjic provided a neat cross with his left foot.

8.30pm — CAHILL EQUALISES FOR AUSTRALIA

TIM Cahill has come to Australia’s rescue for the umpteenth time, firing home a pass from Massimo Luongo in the 33rd minute.

Australia’s all-time leading scorer has now scored nine of the 13 goals scored by the Socceroos since Ange Postecoglou took over — and this one couldn’t have come at a better time.

“Who else would you want in that sort of position?” Robbie Slater said. “Great finish from Tim Cahill.”

8.10pm — OPENING GOAL TO KUWAIT

AUSTRALIA is going to have to come from behind to win its Group A opener after conceding early to Kuwait.

The Socceroos failed to deal with a corner and watched in dismay as Ali Hussain Fadhel sent his header into the back of the net.

“It’s a sloppy, sloppy goal for Australia to concede,” commentator Simon Hill said.

Mark Bosnich added: “Too many people watching the ball, too many people not doing their job.”

The Kuwait fans at AAMI Park were given something to cheer about early.
The Kuwait fans at AAMI Park were given something to cheer about early.
The Socceroos lineup before the start of play.
The Socceroos lineup before the start of play.

7.30pm — POSTECOGLOU: WE’RE READY

Ange Postecoglou believes his team is ready to fire.
Ange Postecoglou believes his team is ready to fire.

ANGE Postecoglou has just completed a quick pre-game interview and was giving nothing away.

“Everyone is pretty keen to get it going,” he said.

“All our preparation has gone into making sure we play well tonight and get three points ...

“I’m sure they’ll be a tough nut to crack. But we’ll concentrate on ourselves and how we want to play — nice and positive.”

Frank Lowy and Tony Abbott, who appears to be doing his best Bob Hawke impersonation.
Frank Lowy and Tony Abbott, who appears to be doing his best Bob Hawke impersonation.

7.10pm — SOCCEROOS LINE-UP REVEALED

Tim Cahill will lead the line for the Socceroos tonight.
Tim Cahill will lead the line for the Socceroos tonight.

ANGE Postecoglou hasn’t sprung any surprises in his starting 11 for tonight’s clash against Kuwait.

Tim Cahill will start at striker in front of a midfield trio of James Troisi, Massimo Luongo and captain Mile Jedinak, with wide players Robbie Kruse and Mathew Leckie providing support from the wings.

Aziz Behich, Matthew Spiranovic, Trent Sainsbury and Ivan Franjic form the back four in front of goalkeeper Matt Ryan.

7pm — BOZZA’S RUTHLESS ASSESSMENT

Former Socceroo Mark Bosnich doesn’t sound confident in our chances of lifting this trophy.
Former Socceroo Mark Bosnich doesn’t sound confident in our chances of lifting this trophy.

AUSTRALIAN goalkeeping legend Mark Bosnich has attacked Ange Postecoglou’s preparation of the Socceroos leading into the Asian Cup.

The Fox Sports analyst, speaking in the pre-game to tonight’s game between Australian and Kuwait, believes Postecoglou has spent too much time trialling different players in recent friendlies and not enough time settling the team.

“From the World Cup I think we’ve gone backwards,” Bosnich said.

“I think one of the main reasons we’ve gone backwards is he (Ange Postecoglou) has tried to change too much too soon leading into this tournament.

“If this tournament was maybe a year later I could understand exactly where he’s coming from but 42 players ... we’ve used so far.

“I don’t think we’ve got 42 players in Australia of international class. I understand you want to use friendly games to try players in different positions but in those first two games in the World Cup ... we found a formula that worked.

“And with the limited number of games we had to go forward to the Asian Cup I thought he would have stuck to that as much as he can.

“You haven’t got much time as an international coach, it’s not like the club scene where you can work with players week in, week out, day in, day out.

“I think he’s left himself a little short in terms of time and to find a way we can be effective.”

Bosnich seemed to indicate the Socceroos should be worrying less about style and more about substance.

“Playing a certain style is admirable ... but I think if you ask all Australians ‘what would you like, for us to win the Asian Cup playing a style that you’re not too happy with, or to go out in the group stages looking pretty?’ ...

“I think the majority of Australians would take the former which is to win the Asian Cup.”

Originally published as Australia vs Kuwait Asian Cup Group A opener in Melbourne

More related stories

Original URL: https://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/football/australia-vs-kuwait-asian-cup-group-a-opener-in-melbourne/news-story/55de97eb57e2c64d7f01d77772d60272