Socceroos snatch late draw against South Korea

Just as they did in the 2015 Asian Cup final, Australia have broken South Korean hearts with a late Massimo Luongo goal.

Socceroo Massimo Luongo is challenged by Moon Seonmin of South Korea during the international friendly match at Suncorp Stadium.

Just as they did in the 2015 Asian Cup final, Australia have broken South Korean hearts with a late goal.

Massimo Luongo’s equaliser in the dying seconds on Saturday night at Suncorp Stadium sealed a dramatic 1-1 draw with the Taeguk Warriors. A spilt shot by South Korean goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu deep into stoppage time was pounced on by the Socceroos’ midfielder, who poked the ball home from close range.

A VAR review upheld the goal, despite Korean protests about possible offside or a foul on Kim, and Australia escaped with a share of the spoils. In truth, the goal was the least Australia deserved from a match they had dominated from the early stages.

A bright start by Graham Arnold’s men brought chances to Tom Rogic, Josh Risdon and Aaron Mooy before the game changed in an instant.

Goal keeper Kim Seunggyu of Korea Republic denies Mathew Leckie of the Socceroos a goal.

Striker Hwang Ui-Jo latched onto a long ball that split Australia’s defence, outpacing Trent Sainsbury before coolly finishing past Mat Ryan. That was Korea’s only chance in the first half, as Australia huffed and puffed in front of goal but failed to convert their opportunities.

Of the past 94 goals scored by the Socceroos - 38 of them have come from retired pair Tim Cahill or Mile Jedinak.

Cahill did a lap of honour at halftime ahead of his Socceroos send-off against Lebanon on Tuesday in Sydney, and how the fans would have been hoping the country’s record goal-scorer was still on the pitch when the match resumed. Arnold turned to Australia’s new generation in the second half, throwing on Scottish-born winger Martin Boyle for a debut and giving a second national team appearance to Awer Mabil.

Massimo Luongo of Australia is congratulated by team mates after scoring.

Both Boyle and Mabil added pace and verve as Australia pressed for an equaliser. Ryan’s acrobatic save to paw away Ju Se-jong’s free-kick in the 71st minute kept Australia in the contest before the hosts laid siege on the Korean goal. Their efforts appeared to have been in vain before Luongo pounced with what was virtually the last kick of the game.

Australia take on Lebanon in their final friendly before January’s Asian Cup in the United Arab Emirates, while Korea stay in Brisbane for a friendly on Tuesday against Uzbekistan.

AAP