By Vince Rugari
Al Ain, United Arab Emirates: The Socceroos have crashed out of the Asian Cup with a Milos Degenek blunder handing the United Arab Emirates a shock, and scarcely-deserved, 1-0 win in the quarter-final.
Australia largely dominated the match at the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain but left with their continental title defence in tatters courtesy of Degenek's errant backpass in the 68th minute, which undid all their good work in a flash.
As the Socceroos tried to clear their lines in defence, Degenek played a casual ball back to goalkeeper Mathew Ryan which was picked off by wily Emirati striker Ali Mabkhout.
It may as well have been served on a silver platter to him. Mabkhout latched onto the intercept, rounded Ryan and tucked the ball away with glee, bringing the crowd of 25,053 roaring to life.
Australia searched for a way back into a contest they should never have lost control of but couldn't find it. Not even the introduction of Andrew Nabbout for his first minutes of the tournament made a difference.
Australia's defender Milos Degenek makes a shocking backpass to his goalkeeper.Credit: AP
Speaking after the match, a devastated Degenek admitted he cost his team and his country dearly.
"[It's] pretty shit, to be in this situation," he told reporters. "Shit to be in my shoes and my skin. But that's football, that's how the situation unfolded.
"I don't feel sorry so much for myself as I do for my country and my teammates, because obviously we ended a tournament because of my mistake. But that's life. I've got to deal with it."
Mabkhout scored the shock goal against the running of play.Credit: AP
The upset means the UAE will take on their great geopolitical rival, Qatar, for a spot in the Asian Cup final next week in Abu Dhabi. The Socceroos should be there but are instead going home.
It was a cruel way to end their campaign but football has a way of punishing teams who don't take their chances, and this was an example for the ages.
Coach Graham Arnold's men had enough opportunities - 22 shots to the UAE's 7 - but lacked the final touch that could have turned their dominance of general play into something on the scoreboard.
Australian defender Aziz Behich vies for the ball with United Arab Emirates' midfielder Bandar al-Ahbabi.Credit: AP
The absence of majestic playmaker Tom Rogic was sorely felt, with a bizarre yellow card issued against Uzbekistan proving more costly than even Arnold could have imagined.
As anticipated, Arnold changed the team's formation to a 4-2-2-2 shape to help deal with the loss of Rogic. Robbie Kruse and Chris Ikonomidis played in the two attacking midfield roles behind strikers Jamie Maclaren and Apostolos Giannou, with Awer Mabil also dropping out of the starting team and the fit-again Mathew Leckie on the bench.
Australian forward Apostolos Giannou 40th minute shot was on target but couldn't find the back of the net.Credit: AP
It worked well, and the only thing missing from their energetic first-half performance was a goal. There were a couple of nervy moments in defence but the Socceroos were in control, with Kruse and right back Rhyan Grant particularly bright going forward.
An unmarked Trent Sainsbury should have put them ahead in the fourth minute when Ikonomidis picked him out with a corner kick, but the defender badly overblew his header.
That, and Giannou's 40th minute turn-and-shoot effort which was tipped wide by UAE goalkeeper Khalid Eisa, were Australia's best moments in the opening stanza. But there were other half-chances and openings which could have been more had someone been able to provide the final pass.
Goalkeeper Mathew Ryan, meanwhile, was called into action in the 21st minute when skipper Mark Milligan was dispossessed in midfield and the Whites launched a rapid counter-attack. It ended with Ismail al-Hammadi, who beat Sainsbury one-on-one and took aim at goal, but Ryan was able to save and Degenek cleaned up the mess.
Just before the break, the UAE had another great chance when a free kick from out wide found its way to the back post where Mabkhout was ready and waiting. Fortunately for the Socceroos, his header went over the bar.
Leckie entered the fray in the 60th minute for Maclaren and made an immediate impact. Three minutes after coming on, he almost teed up the opener for Giannou by nodding a long ball from Sainsbury down to him. Giannou provided the finish but it was disallowed, with replays showing Leckie was marginally offside.
It seemed as if a goal was inevitable for the Socceroos - then the UAE took advantage of Degenek's poor backpass.
The UAE quickly dropped numbers behind the ball to protect their sudden lead and, whenever possible, wound down the clock by calling for medical attention and stretchers after even the slightest of touches. When the final whistle came, it was pure bedlam for the host nation, and uncomfortable numbness for Australia.