Asian Cup 2019: Australia v Jordan live coverage from Hazza bin Zayed Stadium

Australia has suffered a shock 1-0 loss to Jordan in their opening game of the Asian Cup in the UAE.

Tom Rogic will be a key man for the Socceroos in their Asian Cup opener against Jordan tonight. Picture: Getty Images

• ‘Wizard of Oz’ holds key
• Asia’s coaching gurus
• Spurs’ Son set to star

Welcome to live coverage of Australia’s Group C Asian Cup match against Jordan from the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Kick-off is at 10pm AEDT.

11.54pm: It’s all over

And that’s full-time and Australia has suffered a shock 1-0 loss to Jordan in their opening game of the Asian Cup in the UAE.

The Socceroos dominated possession and all statistics everywhere but where it counts, on the scoreboard.

Jordan’s first half goal decided the outcome and has put the Australians under pressure in the defene of the title they won in 2015.

Jordan worked hard and defended in numbers, frustrating the Socceroos ny throwing every man behind the ball in deference.

The Socceroos were disappointing in the first half, but played better in nthe second. However, luck wasn’t on their side with Awer Mabil hitting the post and Jamie Maclaren having a goal disallowed for off side.

They also had a clear cut penalty not given.

Australia will play Palestine in their next game in five days time in a must win game.

11.47pm: Maclaren’s ball ruled offside

Maclaren has the ball in the back of the net for the Socceroos but it’s ruled offside so it doesn’t count.

11.46pm: Time is running out

Time running out for the Socceroos. It’s been wave after wave of attack but they just can’t get it right in front of goal. There’s five minutes plus injury time to go.

Australia's defender Trent Sainsbury, right, fights for the ball with Jordan's forward Baha Faisal. Picture: AFP

11.39pm: Another missed opportunity

So close for the Socceroos with Mabil smashing a left foot shot against the right post. There’s a scramble in the box and Jordan somehow clear the danger.

11.34pm: Second change for Australia

Heart in the mouth stuff for the Socceroos as Jordan break and have two on two, but it ends with a weak shot that is easy pickings for Ryan. There would have been no way back from a second goal. Australia make their seciond change with Irvine replacing Luongo.

11.33pm: Nice ball across the face of the goal

Good move by the Socceroos. Mabil plays the ball to Behich on the left and he gets a lovely ball across the face of goal where Rogic sends a first time left footed shot way over the bar.

11.22pm: Australia push hard for an equaliser

Great chance for Australia with Rogic firing a shot that the goalkeeper couldn’t hold, the ball rolls free but the Socceroos can’t capitalise.

Australia are still pushing hard for an equaliser. The Jordanians are sitting very deep in defence and have every player behind the ball. Jordan are also trying to slow down the game as much as possible and this will further frustrate the Australians.

We have reached the 69 minute mark.

11.15pm: And here he is

That change comes now in the 55th minute with Ikonomidis replacing Kruse. He has been in great form in the A-League and the Socceroos are going to need some of his magic here.

11.14pm: Ikonomidis starts warming up

Australia looking a lot better in attack in the opening 10 minutes of the second half. They are pushing up on the Jordanian defence and starting to ask questions. Behich tries a left footer that just goes over the bar. Arnold looking to make a second chage with Ikonomidis warming up.

11.07pm: Jordan kick off second half

Australia have made one change with Rhyan Grant coming on for Josh Risdon at right-back. Jordan kick off the second half. Australia are going to have to lift their game against a very composed and competent Jordan.

And @RhyanGrant is now on for the @Socceroos in this second half against Jordan!!

Good luck Busta and all the boys, go get ‘em! 💪#SydneyIsSkyBlue #ComeWithUs #GoSocceroos #AsiaCup2019 #AUSvJOR pic.twitter.com/wsdDc2wR8Y

— Sydney FC (@SydneyFC) January 6, 2019

Good start for Australia as Mabil gets in behind the defence and fires a low, hard cross that forces the goalkeeper to push the ball away but there is no Australian to pick up the pieces.

10.49pm: Socceroos trail 1-0 at half time

And that’s half time. Australia has it all to do in the second half as they trail Jordan 1-0. They have dominated possession, but Jordan have been terrific, hitting Australia on the break and making life difficult for them.

Graham Arnold will surely make a change at half time with Chris Ikonomidis the most likely to come on.

10.48pm: Things are not going well for the Aussies

Crucial decision goes against the Australia as the referee fails to see a deliberate hand ball in the Jordan penalty area. Replays show it should have been a penalty.

10.45pm: Australia resorts to fouling

Frustration really creeping into Australia’s game as we approach the end of the first half. They have resorted to some fouling. They just can’t find a way through this brick wall Jordanian defence.

10.43pm: Australia still yet to score

Australia wins another corner, it again it comes to nothing. Australia’s set pieces have been ineffective with the Jordanians dealing with them comfortably. The Socceroos need to make these moments count. It’s still 1-0 Jordan after 39 minutes.

10.40pm: Luongo in head clash

Well, this isn’t going to plan. Luongo is now getting treatment after a head clash that has caused a cut to his head. He looks to be in a fair bit of trouble.

10.33pm: Yellow card for Sainsbury

Trent Sainsbury gets a yellow card as he brings down a Jordan attacker just outside the box in a very dangerous position. Mat Ryan makes an unbelievable save, tipping Avas shot on to the crossbar.

10.30pm: GOAL Jordan

Disaster for the Australians. Jordan get their first corner of the game. It swung in from the left and Avas is unmarked and heads the ball into the net. Terrible defending there.

10.22pm: Socceroos struggle to get into rhythm

Australia has a real fight on their hands here. Jordan are really up for it. They are looking solid, composed and compact. They are working hard in transition and jumping on every loose pass from the Australians, who are finding it hard to get into a good rhythm.

10.14pm: Good save from Ryan

Again, Jordan break quickly on the break after Luongo carelessly lost the ball. Eventually Rawshidi fires a shot from outside the box that forces goalkeeper Mat Ryan into a good save after 11 minutes.

The game has come to life with the Socceroos countering through Mabil who finds space inside the area only to see his shot well blocked by the goalkeeper.

Awer Mabil of Australia competes for the ball with Baha' Abdel-Rahman of Jordan. Picture: Getty

10.14pm: Spotted: green and gold in the crowd

Great to see some 💚 & 💛 in the crowd. #GoSocceroos #TogetherAsOne

📷 Asian Football Confederation pic.twitter.com/xGHuTNFcA4

— Socceroos (@Socceroos) January 6, 2019

10.13pm: Jordan working hard

Jordan with there first real attack of the game after nine minutes. They break quickly down the right side and get into the box but some excellent defence clears the danger. That’s what the Jordanians will be looking to do. Jordan looking compact at the moment and working hard.

10.11pm: Jordan goalkeeper showboats

Australia win the first corner of game. Mabil swings it in from the left but the Jordan goalkeeper makes a spectacular diving clearance. He could have caught that easily, instead he did the showboat thing.

10.07pm: Confident start for the Aussies

The Socceroos have started confidently and are dominating possession in the early stages and that is no surprise. Jordan will be content to sit back, allow the Australians to push forward, hope for a turnover then try to hit them on the counter.

10.02pm: Australia kicks off

The anthems are done and it’s Australia who kicks off against Jordan in front of a very small crowd at Al Ain.

🇦🇺 🇦🇺 🇦🇺 #GoSocceroos #TogetherAsOne #AUSvJOR pic.twitter.com/lhUVMrzR4b

— Socceroos (@Socceroos) January 6, 2019

8.50pm: Socceroos line-up announced

Jamie Maclaren has been handed the contentious no 9 role for Australia’s opening game of the Asian Cup against Jordan, due to kick off at 10pm (AEDT).

His selection comes after Andrew Nabbout, who was set to start, was ruled out with a groin injury he apparently suffered during the Socceroos last training run before the match. It is a cruel bow for Nabbout, but a stroke of luck for Maclaren.

Australia, your team is in!

âš½ @Socceroos v Jordan
⌚ 10pm AEDT, 9:30pm ACDT, 9pm AEST, 7pm AWST.
🏟 Hazza bin Zayed Stadium
📺 @FOXFOOTBALL 505#AUSvJOR #GoSocceroos #TogetherAsOne pic.twitter.com/hMEwQ0pXZC

— Socceroos (@Socceroos) January 6, 2019

Scotland based Maclaren has yet to get on the scoresheet for the Socceroos in eight appearances, but is highly regarded and gets his chance to make the position his own with doubts around the fitness of Nabbout.

Nabbout’s injury is yet another blow for Australia and Socceroos coach Graham Arnold. He joins Aaron Mooy, and Martin Boyle on the sideline after the due was forced to withdraw from the tournament with knee injuries.

There are also doubts over the fitness of attacker Mathew Leckie, though he is still part of the squad. Australian officials are hopeful both Leckie and Nabbout will still play a part in the tournament. Under the rules, neither can be replaced.

Arnold came up with a selection surprise, preferring Awer Mabil for one of the wide roles ahead of the in form Chris Ikonomidis, who impressed during the friendly against Oman last week.

The quick and skilful Mabil has made the most of his opportunities since Arnold drafted into the national team set-up in November.

Mabil and Nabbout aside, the starting side is very much as predicted.

Mark Milligan has been moved from central defence into midfield with Milos Degenek to play alongside Trent Sainsbury in the heart of the defence.

Milligan will fill the role normally taken by Mooy and will have Massimo Luongo and Tommy Rogic alongside him.

The line-up: Maty Ryan; Josh Risdon, Milos Degenek, Trent Sainsbury, Aziz Behich; Massimo Luongo, Mark Milligan (c), Tom Rogic; Awer Mabil, Jamie Maclaren, Robbie Kruse

6.37pm: Rogic expected to step up

Australia will carry the weight of expectation when they kick off their Asian Cup campaign in just under three hours but none more so than the man labelled the Wizard of Oz.

The centre of a club v country tug-of-war recently, Tom Rogic is not only ready to put that controversy behind him but finally put his stamp on the national team.

Rogic has always shown immense ability since coming to notice while playing for the Central Coast Mariners in the A-League. His talent was quickly recognised and it came as no surprise when he made the move to Europe, joining Scottish giants Celtic in 2013.

But while he has made a mark with Celtic, becoming a key figure in their relentless match towards an eighth successive SPL title, he hasn’t been able to exert the same sort of influence with the national team.

Certainly there have been times when he has looked the part on the international stage, but not to the same extent as with Celtic, where he is a real favourite of the fans and coach Brendan Rodgers.

But, according to Socceroos coach Graham Arnold, that will change at the Asian Cup.

With Aaron Mooy sidelined with injury, Rogic will be expected to step up another notch, something Arnold believes the 26-year-old is more than capable of doing. Such is Arnold’s belief that he expects him to go close to being the player of the tournament.

Arnold knows Rogic better than most, having given him his chance in the A-League when he was in charge of the Central Coast Mariners.

“I haven’t seen him in better shape,” Arnold said during the week. “The club v country stuff is forgotten and he has a smile on his face.

“Tommy loves being with the Socceroos.

“The trick is to give him his freedom, confidence and belief. Get him smiling and make him happy.

“He is a player who plays what he feels and he can be very unpredictable. But there are not many players in Australia withy his type of technique and skill.

Arnold has made sure to look after Rogic during the Socceroos camp because he has been carrying a knee injury which will ultimately need more attention at the end of the domestic football season.

But he hasn’t shown any signs of discomfort at training and will go into tonight’s opening game against Jordan in good shape and ready to make an impact.

5.40pm: ‘Wizard of Oz’ holds key

Australian coach Graham Arnold is so bullish about the form of attacking midfielder Tom Rogic that he expects the Celtic star to be a contender for the Asian Cup’s player of the tournament award.

Speaking at a training session ahead of the Socceroos’ opening match against Jordan tonight, Arnold said Rogic — the key man for Australia given the absence of injured playmaker Aaron Mooy — was “in great shape”.

“I expect Tommy to be nearly player of the series,” Arnold said. “You saw him today at training. He’s in great shape.

“Make Tommy happy, make him smile, miracles will happen. Because he is a backyard footballer. To say that, to call him that, he’s an indoor footballer who’s gone into top footballer and he’s doing great at Celtic.”

Tom Rogic evades Denmark’s Thomas Delaney during the World Cup earlier this year. Picture: Getty Images

Read the full story here.

5pm: Coaching heavyweights on show

The biggest-ever Asian Cup has a large collection of international coaching heavyweights providing extra glamour. Only one of them knows what it’s like to win the biggest prize in world soccer: Marcello Lippi led Italy to the World Cup title in 2006.

More recently, Lippi has won Chinese Super League and Asian Champions League titles with Guangzhou Evergrande. But the Italian has an uphill task ensuring a disappointing two-year spell in charge of China ends with silverware before his expected retirement.

China's national team coach Marcello Lippi speaks to his players ahead of the Asian Cup. Picture: AFP

“The coach has emphasised three points for a successful team,” China defender Liu Yang said. “First of all, experience. Second, the positivity and excitement of young players and third, the desire for winning. I think if we can do well on these three points, we will not have regrets whatever the result of the competition.”

China enters the Asian Cup in the United Arab Emirates with one win in seven games, including disappointing draws against Palestine, India and Bahrain. A runner-up in 1984 and 2004, China opens its campaign Monday against Kyrgyzstan, followed by matches against the Philippines and South Korea in Group C.

CARLOS QUEIROZ
A former Real Madrid and Portugal coach, Carlos Queiroz has genuine hopes of winning with Iran after eight years in charge of Asia’s top-ranked team. But the longest-serving coach in the tournament also knows how to downplay expectations. “The responsibility to win this competition is on the shoulders of Japan, Australia, South Korea,” Queiroz said. “Those are the countries that they are really, really in front of the rest of Asia.” Just like the European Championship added eight countries in 2016, its Asian counterpart has also made the jump to 24 teams.

Expansion has opened the door for Kyrgyzstan, the Philippines and Yemen to make their Asian Cup debuts.

Iran coach Carlos Queiroz. Picture: AFP

SVEN-GORAN ERIKSSON
A title winner with clubs in Sweden, Portugal and Italy, Sven-Goran Eriksson has little prospect of winning the Asian Cup with the Philippines. For the Swede hired in October, it’s all about being among the 16 teams to make it through to the knockout phase.

“With this generation of players, the Philippines have the chance to show that football is good in the Philippines,” said Eriksson, who took England to the quarterfinals of the World Cup in 2002 and 2006. “If we can go through that will mean a lot for the country.” The hosts also have an Italian coach. But Alberto Zaccheroni, who led AC Milan to the 1999 Serie A title, has struggled in charge of the United Arab Emirates. The team only scored seven goals in 11 games last year.

Philippines national football team head coach Sven-Goran Eriksson. Picture: AP

ARGENTINE RIVALS
Regional rival Saudi Arabia has been in better form under Juan Antonio Pizzi, the Argentine who led Chile to the 2016 Copa America title. Compatriot Hector Cuper, a cup winner with clubs in Argentina and Spain, is in charge of Uzbekistan.

4.30pm: Son to star for South Korea

South Korea, led by former Portugal coach Paulo Bento, may have some injury issues — but they also possess the biggest name in Asian soccer in Son Heung-min. The in-form Tottenham attacker will miss the first two group games and arrive in time to take on China on January 16, although he has apologised to his Premier League club for leaving mid-season.

“I feel sorry for my teammates, the fans and the coaching staff,” Son said. “It’s difficult. Sometimes you think it’s a bit sad, but it is also important for my country. I hope I can keep my form for the national team and when I come back here again as well.”

Tottenham Hotspur's South Korean striker Son Heung-Min goes on the attack during an FA Cup match against Tranmere Rovers. Picture: AFP

4.15pm: Political tensions at Asian Cup
The 2019 Asian Cup is being staged against the background of regional tensions. In 2017, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia broke off diplomatic relations and cut travel ties with Qatar. That sets the stage for a highly-charged group-stage game between the Saudis and 2022 World Cup host Qatar. There is also a chance of a knockout stage game between South and North Korea, who are technically still at war but have enjoyed better diplomatic relations recently.

WAR-TORN COUNTRIES
Both Yemen and Syria have a chance to make some international headlines that do not involve the ongoing conflict taking place at home. Soccer continues to survive and Syria especially has ambitions of progressing to the last eight and perhaps beyond.