Asian Cup Round of 16 | Australia defeat Uzbekistan on penalties after 0-0 draw

Mat Ryan was a young boy sitting in the stands when Mark Schwarzer made a save that sent us to a World Cup. Today it was his turn.

Leckie said he didn’t know what to do in the celebration.

• Ryan provides great escape
• Socceroos game plan from behind enemy lines

Live: Asian Cup Round of 16 Socceroos vs Uzbekistan

Welcome to our live coverage of the Socceroos Asian Cup Round of 16 match against Uzbekistan in the UAE.

The Socceroos squeezed through to the Asian Cup quarterfinals after a nerve-wracking penalty shootout win over Uzbekistan in the Asian Cup round of 16.

While it won’t go down in history like Mark Schwarzer’s save to get Australia through to the 2006 World Cup, it was a huge moment for goalkeeper Mat Ryan.

Australia retained its record of having never conceded a goal against the Uzbeks and will face hosts UAE after they secured a 3-2 extratime win against Kyrgyzstan.

PENALTY SHOTS | AUSTRALIA 0 (4) — (2) 0 UZBEKISTAN

3.50am

Ryan provides great escape

Australian goalkeeper Mat Ryan has saved Australia’s lack of a killer instinct with two huge saves in the penalty shootout.

After 120 scoreless minutes, Australia had the best of the chances but couldn’t convert.

As the match went to penalties, Australia was in trouble when Aziz Behich’s low attempt was saved.

But Ryan saved the next Uzbekistan attempt, standing his ground to bunt the ball away.

Then, with Australia up 3-2, he dived to save a thunderous shot, before celebrations began.

Mathew Leckie finished it off for Australia to go through to the next round of the Asian Cup, albeit by the smallest of margins.

. @MatyRyan. NATIONAL HERO.

The @Socceroos keeper stepped up when his country needed him most.

A big moment in Aussie football history. 🙌🇦🇺 pic.twitter.com/Wjm7KEK6s9

— FOX Sports Football (@FOXFOOTBALL) January 21, 2019

Asked about coming up so big with the game on the line, Ryan seemed to be stunned after the match.

“It’s definitely up there,” Ryan said.

“As a little boy in the crowd that night when Schwarzer had his heroics, it’s definitely up there with that. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I’d be here, representing Australia. Now I’ve got 50 caps to my name.

“I hadn't saved a penalty for the national team which was something that was bugging me. To get two in that moment there, I’m really happy and for a goalkeeper, that’s the pinnacle.”

Mat Ryan was treated like a hero by the Aussie fans.

John Aloisi said Ryan’s first save was better than his second, standing tall and blocking as the Uzbekistan shooter went down the middle.

Leckie, returning from injury, put Australia through to the quarterfinal, and kept the defence of the Asian Cup title alive.

“The few penalties I saw before, the keeper stood really long in his spot and I wanted to make sure I hit it hard, that way if he got it he wouldn’t have a chance,” Leckie said.

“To be fair, out of all the penalties I’ve taken in my life at training, I’ve never hit it that good. It was meant to be, the boys did super good today.

Mathew Leckie sends us into the #AsianCup2019 Quarter Finals! 😍

🎥: @FoxFootball #GoSocceroos #AUSvUZB pic.twitter.com/qxDgVFpggS

— Socceroos (@Socceroos) January 21, 2019

“The Uzbekistan team were so good, so disciplined, it was so hard to break them down. I think it was a bit of a stalemate for both teams and Uzbekistan were the unlucky team that went home in pens.”

Leckie said to play a part in a win like that meant everything.

“For me to be playing today, it’s super special,” he said.

“I didn’t know what to do. The hero here today is Matty Ryan, he saved two unbelieveable penalties, I just had to finish it off but he’s the real hero.”

Australian players celebrate with their goalkeeper Mat Ryan.

Bosnich said Australia were the better team across the 120 minutes and deserved the win.

Robbie Slater said Australia should have won it in regular time.

After the Uzbeks dominated the first half, Australia were the better team after halftime and extra-time but were unable to score a winning blow.

The Aussies and Uzbeks started the second half with 50-50 possession, but at the end of full-time, the possession was 62 per cent to Australia.

Leckie, fresh from injury lay-off, sparked the Aussies with two close shots at the Uzbek goal.

Australia started dominating possession early with a nervous moment in the Uzbekistan box but a Rhyan Grant header was toothless and well handled by the keeper before a second header went over the top.

Enter Leckie who took a long range shot from outside the box — which was knocked away by the Uzbek keeper — before also being involved in the best chance of the night.

Leckie cut through the defence, only to be blocked by the Uzbek goalie Ignatiy Nesterov on the goal line before it was chipped off the goal line.

For Uzbekistan, the side was out on its feet but survived against the defending champs.

But the final minutes belonged to Uzbekistan with two challenging moments from corner kicks.

Better from #Socceroos since half-time of normal time, but still sorely lacking a clinical edge when it matters. Leckie’s willingness & ability to beat players brings another dimension & Giannou offers a better target than Maclaren. One moment of quality will win it. #AUSvUBZ

— Rob Greenwood (@robgreenwood1) January 21, 2019

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12am

Socceroos game plan from behind enemy lines

Uzbekistan-based Australian coach Mirko Jelicic has urged the Socceroos to test the aerial ability of the White Wolves goalkeeper and control their ageing playmaker in Monday’s Asian Cup round of 16 encounter.

The 53-year-old former Perth Glory fitness coach has spent the best part of the last decade coaching in the central Asian nation and is an assistant with Uzbekistan champions Lokomotiv Tashkent.

A key element to Uzbekistan coach Hector Cuper’s plans will be veteran midfielder Odil Ahmedov.

Expect plenty of this against Uzbekistan.

However, Jelicic believes Uzbekistan’s over-reliance on the 31-year-old could be an area for the Socceroos to exploit.

“He’s been the main focus the last seven or eight years ... it’s starting to work against them a little bit, I feel, because he’s a little bit past his prime and yet he’s such a big figure in Uzbek football that he’s a little bit overly respected,” Jelicic told AAP.

“They tend to look for him too often and I think it undermines their natural play in terms of letting other people do their bit.

“They’ll look for him a lot but he’s lost his capacity to have a huge influence on the game.

“He’s still very good, don’t get me wrong, but not at the level he was four or five years ago.” Uzbekistan’s 35-year-old goalkeeper Ignatiy Nesterov plays at Lokomotiv and Jelicic believes the experienced shot stopper is a potential weak link in their team.

“Aerially, has probably been his biggest downfall, with the Aussies having at times that sort of game where they’re getting balls into the box then that could possibly pose a problem for him,” Jelicic said.

The recent appointment of veteran Argentine Cuper, who took up the Uzbekistan job after leading Egypt in last year’s World Cup, makes for an intriguing knockout clash in Al Ain between two teams settling into life under new head coaches.

Jelicic expects Cuper to keep his game plan simple in an attempt to stifle the Socceroos’ front three of Awer Mabil, Chris Ikonomidis and Jamie Maclaren.

“They’ll sit and try to absorb some of that forward pressure because the Aussies do get numbers forward,” he said.

“You’ve got six, sometimes seven, players in pretty high forward positions which then leaves your backline open a little bit.

“With the speed they’ve got upfront and the technical players that could be something they possibly try to exploit.”

Graham Arnold has confirmed Mathew Leckie will be on the bench for Australia and could make his first appearance of the tournament.

The 27-year-old has been recovering from a hamstring injury suffered before the tournament but returned to full training on Friday.

The winner of the clash between the Socceroos and Uzbekistan will face the UAE or Kyrgyzstan in Al Ain in the quarter-finals on Friday (Saturday AEDT).

— AAP