‘Could have had more': Socceroos hat-trick hero’s one regret in thrashing

The Socceroos have shown no mercy against a football minnow, blowing Bangladesh off the park in front of 20,000 fans in Melbourne.

Jamie Maclaren was on fire. Pic: Michael Klein

The Socceroos have got their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign off to a rollicking start after a second-half hat-trick from Jamie Maclaren powered them to a 7-0 thumping of World No. 183 ranked minnows Bangladesh at AAMI Park on Thursday night.

Just three minutes after the restart, Jordan Bos’ precise cross from the left allowed former Melbourne City teammate Maclaren to complete a simple tap-in from point-blank range to put Australia up 5-0.

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In the 70th minute, Maclaren scored his second goal in classic poacher style. After Massimo Luongo’s powerful strike was saved by Marma, the ball went straight into the path of Maclaren who sent it into the back of the net from a few yards out to make it 6-0.

Nine minutes later, Maclaren was denied a hat-trick when his strike from 10 yards out slammed into debutant teammate Kusini Yengi, who couldn’t get out of the way on the goal line, much to Maclaren’s chagrin.

But Maclaren didn’t have to wait long to score his third as he angled home the Lewis Miller cross from close range with a deft touch to complete the rout.

Jamie Maclaren needed just 36 minutes to net a second half hat-trick and his second treble for the #Socceroos ⚽⚽⚽

Take a bow, Macca 🌟

🎥 @10FootballAU#AUSvBANpic.twitter.com/QicpICmaIw

— Subway Socceroos (@Socceroos) November 16, 2023

Maclaren could have had a fourth in the second minute of stoppage time, but he failed to keep his forceful hit from close range low.

Speaking to Channel 10 after the match, Maclaren said he could have scored more.

“It’s seven goals but it could have been more — for myself as well,” he said. “But we move on, three points and we head to Kuwait now.”

The result was unsurprising considering the difference in the FIFA world rankings — 156 spots separate Australia (27) and Bangladesh (183), and it showed/

Less than 12 months after making it to the knockout stage of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Australia emphasised the gaping gulf in class between themselves and the South Asians, who are nestled in between Bhutan and Dominica in the world rankings.

Maclaren celebrates a goal. Photo by Kelly Defina/Getty Images

On the 18-year anniversary of the Socceroos’ famous playoff victory over Uruguay, which saw them break their 32-year World Cup drought, the hosts wasted little time opening up their account.

The imposing Harry Souttar rose highest in the fourth minute and headed it in easily from close range against an undersized Bangladesh defence after Craig Goodwin whipped in a beautiful free kick.

The Socceroos doubled their advantage 16 minutes later when Miller’s delightful chip over the top found Connor Metcalfe who exploded down the right and squared it to Brandon Borrello for the easy tap-in from a yard out.

In the 37th minute, Duke made it 3-0 when he flicked home a graceful looping header from six yards out up and over Bangladesh goalkeeper Mitul Marma, while sandwiched in between two opponents, after connecting with a gorgeous Metcalfe lobbed cross.

And three minutes later Duke doubled his personal tally and put Australia four goals to the good. Borrello’s thunderous long-range strike cannoned into the left post, but Duke was in the right place for the rebound to tap it in with the outside of his right foot from six yards out.

Australia got plenty of hug practice. Photo by Kelly Defina/Getty Images

With 29 shots to one, including 14 on target, Australia’s win could so easily have been bigger.

In the first half, Borrello’s header from six yards out was somehow saved by Marma and a Baccus header from very close range went just over the bar after connecting with a brilliant Goodwin corner.

A powerful Jackson Irvine attempt from 18 yards out was saved well by Marma too, and Cameron Burgess somehow failed to put it into the back of the net from close range after getting on the end of another superb Goodwin corner.

In the second half, Bos’ long-range strike was well saved, as was the Maclaren follow-up tap-in attempt, Burgess’ header from a corner went over the bar and another Bos attempt, this time with his head, went wide.

In the 90th minute Luongo’s tame penalty attempt was saved by Marma diving to his right, making it zero from four for Luongo from the spot in his career.

Australia’s utter dominance was also evident in the fact that they owned the ball with 70 per cent of possession, including 597 passes to the visitors’ 216.