The takeaways from Australia’s 3-2 win over Syria in the Asian Cup

The Socceroos secured progression to the knockout stages of the Asian Cup with a 3-2 win over Syria.Here are the five things we learned from that hard-fought victory in Al Ain!

Here are the five things we learned from Australia's win over Syria.

The Socceroos secured progression to the knockout stages of the Asian Cup with a hard-fought 3-2 win over Syria.

Here are the five things we can take away from last night’s victory in Al Ain!

SOCCEROOS NEWS

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PLAYER RATINGS: SOCCEROOS STAR’S STUNNING RESPONSE TO CRITICS

BURNING QUESTIONS: ARNIE’S MIDFIELD DILEMMA, BIG STRIKER CALL LOOMS

MACLAREN IS NOW AUSTRALIA’S MAIN GOALSCORER

Andrew Nabbout’s recurrence of a groin injury means he’s in doubt to play any part in Australia’s Asian Cup defence. His woes mean Jamie Maclaren, who was unlucky not to score against Syria, is now the Socceroos’ key attacking weapon.

MABIL IS A GENUINE SUPERSTAR

With the departure of record goalscorer Tim Cahill, are we seeing another emerge in the form of South Sudanese refugee Awer Mabil. The 23-year-old scored a left- footed beauty to opening the scoring and now has four goals in seven appearances for his country. He’s exciting, dynamic and a real talent. Australia have a gem of a player there.

AUSTRALIA’S MENTAL RESILIENCE GOT THEM THROUGH

The controversial penalty which allowed Syria to level the match 2-2 sparked an intense final 10 minutes. As the Syrians poured forward in search of a winner, their fans turned the Khalifa Bin Zayed Stadium into a cauldron. Graham Arnold’s men didn’t buckle and were always a threat on the counter.

COULD THIS BE THE MAKING OF TOM ROGIC

There’s no doubt Tom Rogic is an Australian football superstar but there’s always been a feeling he saves his best performances for Scottish Premiership club Celtic. He was huge against Syria however, often playing clever balls in behind the Syrian defence for Maclaren, Mabil and Ikonomidis to run on to. His 93rd-minute winner was a great strike in the circumstances and Graham Arnold will be hoping his former Central Coast Mariners prodigy is ready to shine in the tournament.

THINGS ONLY GET TOUGHER FOR THE SOCCEROOS

Syria were Australia’s toughest hurdle so far, fired up by the off-field dramas in the past week and with a team that was better than their first two performances suggested. It doesn’t get any easier, however, with either an impressive Uzbekistan team under the tutelage of veteran coach Hector Cuper or Asian nemesis Japan next up at the same venue in six days’ time.

Originally published as The takeaways from Australia’s 3-2 win over Syria in the Asian Cup