Unconvincing Socceroos escape with draw against gallant Uzbekistan
They got the point they needed to top their Asian Cup group, but the Socceroos will have to improve on their performance against Uzbekistan to have any chance of winning the tournament.
Football
Don't miss out on the headlines from Football. Followed categories will be added to My News.
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, barely creating a genuine chance.
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.
Five changes
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.
Originally published as Unconvincing Socceroos escape with draw against gallant Uzbekistan
Socceroo being ‘treated like a proper player’ again
A star Socceroo who is much happier after a change of clubs in England is intent on helping Australia bouncing back after a shock loss to Bahrain.
Socceroos road to 2026 World Cup set to get even harder
Socceroos midfielder Keanu Baccus says he only expects qualifying for this and future World Cups to get harder as more and more Asian countries invest more into national football teams.