Asian Cup exit for Socceroos after error gifts the UAE

Both regret and praise are running high after the Socceroos fell to a sucker punch in a cruel Asian Cup exit, after Milos Degenek gifted the UAE. | VIDEO

United Arab Emirates' forward Ali Mabkhout al Hajeri, left, dribbles past Australia's goalkeeper Mat Ryan to score his side's goal. Picture: Hassan Ammar/AP

Australia coach Graham Arnold’s Socceroos have fallen to a sucker-punch from host nation the UAE in a cruel Asian Cup quarter-final exit but he has praised their tournament performance.

Arnold’s men fell to a sucker-punch from host nation the UAE in Al Ain, with central defender Milos Degenek’s horror second-half mistake gifting the Emiratis the only goal in Saturday’s (AEDT) 1-0 loss.

Australia now head home to begin preparations for the first round of 2022 World Cup qualifiers starting later this year while the UAE head to Abu Dhabi for a semi-final with Gulf rivals Qatar on Tuesday.

United Arab Emirates forward Ali Mabkhout scores the only goal in the Asian Cup quarter-final soccer match with Australia. Picture: Giuseppe Cacace/AFP

Milos Degenek of Australia looks dejected after the match. Picture: Francois Nel/Getty Images

There had appeared little danger in the match when Degenek attempted a backpass to goalkeeper Mat Ryan in the 68th minute of a game Australia had controlled for large parts.

But the 24-year-old’s pass was short and UAE striker Ali Mabkhout nipped in ahead of Ryan to steal the ball and score into an empty net.

The goal was a double blow, coming minutes after Australia thought they’d taken the lead when birthday boy Apostolos Giannou finished after combining with substitute Mathew Leckie.

Leckie however was flagged for offside in the build up and Giannou’s goal was ruled out.

Despite the defeat, Arnold was full of praise for his young team which had overcome pre-tournament injuries to Aaron Mooy, Daniel Arzani and Martin Boyle to reach the last eight.

“Football can be a cruel sport. It’s probably the only sport in the world that you can control possession, you can have much more possession, can have more chances on goal, you can spend more time in the opposition’s half and you can still lose,” Arnold said.

“I think that we’ve done very, very well this tournament.

“The whole frontline for the first three games had less than 10 games between all three of them.

“A couple of players from the A-League have stepped up in Rhyan Grant, Chris Ikonomidis, who hadn’t played before.

“I’m very, very proud of this group of players. They gave their all and that’s all I can ask.” After a frustrating round of 16 display against Uzbekistan that went to penalties following 120 goalless minutes, Australia began brightly at a packed Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium.

Graham Arnold gives his Australian team instructions during the match. Picture: Francois Nel/Getty Images

With Tom Rogic suspended following a harsh booking against the Uzbeks, Arnold changed his formation and picked Giannou alongside Jamie Maclaren up front with Robbie Kruse earning a recall to the starting line-up on the left.

The UAE threatened on the counter, particularly through pacey winger Ismail Al Hammadi who forced Mat Ryan into one good save after bursting through Australia’s defence.

But largely it was the Socceroos in control with Giannou — the man who went from injury replacement for Boyle to starting striker in three weeks — leading the way.

The introduction of Leckie, Andrew Nabbout and Awer Mabil was Arnold’s attempt to force a goal but — for the third time in five matches this tournament — Australia drew a blank.

“The style that we expect to play takes time,” Arnold said.

“You’ve got to remember I’ve been in charge only for four months. I’ve only had eight games with these boys.

“The style is completely different to what they’ve ever played.”

Degenek heartbroken after Asian Cup error

A heartbroken Milos Degenek had only one way to describe the dreadful error that ended Australia’s Asian Cup campaign.

“Pretty s**t,” the 24-year-old said.

“S**t to be in my shoes and my skin.”

The central defender’s mistake midway through the second-half of Friday’s quarter-final allowed the UAE to score the only goal.

“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,” Degenek said.

“I’ve got to deal with it. I’ve had situations like this before — you learn, you grow up, you move on. I’m 24, 25 years of age, I’m a man, I can accept the fact that I did the mistake but that’s football. I’ll have many more in my life I think.”

Milos Degenek of Australia in a portrait picture by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images.

While Degenek was understandably upset, his teammates were fully behind the defender.

“We’ve not gone out of the tournament because of one mistake,” midfielder Jackson Irvine said.

“We’ve conceded one goal over 120 [minutes] and then a 90-minute game and not scored one.”

Coach Graham Arnold lauded Degenek’s tournament overall and said the mistake wouldn’t be the defining moment of his Socceroos career.

“He’s stepped up this tournament and done fantastically well,” Arnold said. “Obviously he’s hurting at the moment but I’ll make sure that he’s okay.

“He’s a fantastic kid, fantastic professional and he’s got a long future with the Australian national team.”

with AAP

Ali Mabkhout al Hajeri, right, celebrates with his teammate Bandar al Ahbabi after scoring. Picture: AP