Mathew Leckie Asian Cup gamble pays off as experience lifts Socceroos in time of need to quarter finals

He sealed his comeback with the decisive spot-kick, and Mathew Leckie could not be more glad to be back on the park after a frustrating period where his Asian Cup participation was in massive doubt.

Mathew Leckie’s penalty ensured the Socceroos reached the final eight.

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He endured three frustrating group games on the sidelines, but Mathew Leckie made up for it in 60 quality minutes – and a winning penalty.

No one was itching for Leckie’s return from injury more than Leckie himself.

He’d been touch and go since hurting his hamstring just before Christmas, with a tear and tendon damage set to keep him out for up to six weeks.

Mathew Leckie’s penalty ensured the Socceroos reached the final eight.

But when Socceroos medical staff cleared his retention in the squad with no guarantee he’d play even in the knockout stages, he and coach Graham Arnold decided to take the risk.

Four and a half weeks after hurting himself playing for Bundesliga club Hertha Berlin, the gamble paid off.

And in the 68th minute of a must-win round-of-16 clash, he was called on to add spark to a Socceroos XI out of ideas on how to break down a disciplined Uzbekistan defence.

The 27-year-old’s impact was immediate, nearly scoring from distance and dribbling solo into the box for another flirt with goal before running out extra-time pain free.

He sealed his welcome comeback and 60th cap with the decisive spot-kick to secure Australia’s tense 4-2 win on penalties and passage to a quarter-final against the United Arab Emirates.

“What we saw with the first few penalties, the keeper stood up and held his feet very long,”

Leckie said.

Leckie made a big difference when he came on in the second half.

“When I went up, I thought if I hit it hard and I hit it in the corner, even if he chooses the right way, because he waits so late, he won’t be able to save it.

“In the end I ended up hitting it really, really hard, and really good. It was the perfect penalty at the perfect time.

“I think I brought a bit of energy when I first came on, and on another day would have had a bit of luck and that chance I shot might have gone in.

“Hamstring was good, I didn’t feel it at any point so that was a good sign. I ended up playing 60 which wasn’t really planned, but I obviously pushed through.

“I was a bit fatigued at the end - not just the hamstring, just general, because I haven’t played match time for a few weeks now.”

Those last few weeks have been decidedly tough, as Leckie slowly increased his training loads but spent matches confined to the stands, watching nervously as the Socceroos were beaten by Jordan, comfortably rebounded against Palestine and slipped past a highly charged Syria.

“It’s never good, it’s never fun,” he said.

“You always want to go out there and try to be able to help and when you can’t it’s always disappointing, but I knew that was going to be the case.

“The chances of playing today was also a question mark and the medical staff did a really good job ... we’ve been working tirelessly to get me back.

“When we sat down at the start of camp they said there’s always a small chance something could happen or go wrong along the way, but that’s always involved in any injury.

“I said I’m ready to take the risk, any chance to play in the Asian Cup I want to, and obviously then Arnie had to make a decision as well whether he wanted to take the risk with the spot on a player who isn’t going to play in the group stage.

“In the end, so far, it worked out well. It’s still a long way to go in the tournament.”

Originally published as Mathew Leckie Asian Cup gamble pays off as experience lifts Socceroos in time of need to quarter finals