Socceroos vs New Zealand: Aussie steals goal from teammate

Australia has won the ‘Soccer Ashes’ for the first time in 69 years and it came after a moment of high drama between two teammates.

Mitchell Duke and teammate Harry Souttar both claimed it. Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images.

Australia has won the ‘Soccer Ashes’ for the first time in 69 years after a thumping 2-0 win over New Zealand in London.

The most dramatic moment of the match came in the first half when there was confusion around the Aussies’ first goal with both Mitch Duke and Harry Souttar claiming to have scored.

However, the drama won’t bother anyone inside the Socceroos’ dressing room after they ended a four-match winless streak with a convincing win that could have ended even more one-sided.

The victory means Mat Ryan has lifted the forgotten trans-Tasman trophy for the first time since Kevin O’Neill all the way back in 1954.

Duke and Souttar gave Australia a perfect start with a thunderous early goal — and from there it was all one-way traffic as Australia repeatedly squandered chances.

Despite the comfortable win, coach Graham Arnold was not totally impressed at full time.

“The most important thing is in these type of games, we’re creating the chances,” he said.

Mathew Ryan of Australia celebrates and lifts the Trans-Tasman Trophy. Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images.

“And we created plenty but, again, we’ve got to put the ball in the back of the net. Obviously I was happy with the we played but improvement is key.”

He went on to say: “I thought tonight you could see how sharp the boys were with the ball and we’re playing some really good football and it’s just the final part, the penalty box, that we’ve got to fix”.

Australia came into the game on the back of an entertaining loss to England last week and Arnold made no attempt to shy away from his desire to use the Kiwi friendly as a final test before Australia’s World Cup qualifiers next month.

The clash at Gtech Community Stadium in Brentford was the last chance for many to impress Arnold before returning to their clubs ahead of the next international window, where Australia will meet either the Maldives or Bangladesh on November 16 at AAMI Park before backing up five days later against Palestine.

The Aussies were all smiles at full time — and Souttar was particularly grinning after joking about his theft of Duke’s goal.

Duke popped up in the 13th minute and banged home a goal from inside the top of the box.

It was a clever header at the back post from Lewis Miller that put the ball bouncing comfortably towards Duke near the penalty spot — and the leading striker had no problems thundering a volley into the back of the net.

Mitchell Duke slams it home. Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images.

Mitchell Duke and teammate Harry Souttar both claimed it. Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images.

Duke and Souttar had to fight over the ball with both players having a chance to put the ball away, having been given more space than they could have dreamed of.

Souttar even jokingly claimed the goal.

It turned out the goal had been awarded to him because of a deflection the ball took from his chest on its way into the back of the net.

More evidence 🧐@mitchduke8 with the acrobatic effort but it’ll go down as @harryjsouttar’s goal.#AUSvNZL#Soccerooshttps://t.co/WnJyVMMkgwpic.twitter.com/ReGmgfD7aG

— Subway Socceroos (@Socceroos) October 17, 2023

It’s academic but awarding the @Socceroos goal to Souttar is ridiculous. His touch off Duke’s shot was minimal. If Harry were an opponent we would have claimed a Duke goal.

— Philip Micallef ❤️🖤❤️🖤❤️🖤 (@MicallefPhilip) October 17, 2023

Australian football great Alex Brosque said on Network 10: “These two are arguing about who actually got to it. I feel for Duke because he actually made a good run into the area to get himself in position.

“It was a good finish. It would have gone in regardless, but good play.”

Souttar was happy to laugh about it at full time.

Harry Souttar was happy to have a laugh. Photo: Network 10.

When asked if Duke deserved the goal, Souttar replied: “No, he does not. If you watch the replay, it might have been going off target.

“I’m only joking. I was just trying to get out the way, but it hit me and went in so I’ll take it.”

7.30am — Socceroo’s dreadful miss

Brandon Borrello will have nightmares after missing a gimme putt opportunity to put Australia 3-0 ahead.

Borrello got on the end of a perfect cross at the back post with the ball racing towards his feet.

He got all muddled up trying to tap it in and the ball went from his heel wide of the goal.

Football commentator Simon Hill said on Network 10 it was harder for Borrello to miss than it was for him to score.

“Brandon Borrello’s eyes must have lit up. He has just inexplicably knocked it wide and he can’t believe it,” Hill said.

7.20am — Jackson Irvine makes it 2-0

Jackson Irvine of Australia (obscured) scores the team's second goal. Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images.

New Zealand’s set-piece defence has fallen apart again, gifting Jackson Irvine an opportunity to extend Australia’s lead.

Irvine headed home in the 77th minute to make it 2-0 after a dangerous cross found him almost unmarked.

His header from the six-yard box gave All Whites goalkeeper Michael Woud no chance.

7am — Australia has goal taken away

Martin Boyle knew it before he even turned around that his goal was going to be taken off him.

The star striker got on the end of a crisp cross in and only needed one touch to put the ball past the keeper.

However, replays showed he had jumped early and was offside when the pass was fired in.

Martin Boyle was offside. Photo: Network 10.

6am — Graham Arnold makes mass changes

Graham Arnold has given Alessandro Circati his Socceroos debut as part of five big changes from the side that took on England.

The former Italy youth international, who has committed his future to Australia,

Arnold has also given Lewis Miller his first chance to feature in the Socceroos’ starting XI.

Fourteen players – Nathaniel Atkinson, Fran Karacic, Mathew Leckie, Bailey Wright, Jamie Maclaren, Ajdin Hrustic, Aaron Mooy, Riley McGree, Cameron Devlin, Danny Vukovic, Thomas Deng, Garang Kuol, Joel King and Jason Cummings – from Australia’s 26-strong 2022 World Cup squad aren’t in the contingent assembled in England.

“I’m getting headaches now in selecting the team, where probably for three or four years ago I didn’t have that,” Arnold said a day before the match.

“We had an old squad. I had to … win matches and qualify for the (2022) World Cup,” he said.

“We’re getting more and more depth (now) and that was the most important thing for me over the last six months after I re-signed.”