World Cup qualifier: Tom Rogic stars in Australia’s 4-0 win over Vietnam
The Socceroos’ World Cup qualifying campaign is back on track thanks to A Tom Rogic masterclass against Vietnam.
A Tom Rogic masterclass has inspired the Socceroos to an all-important three points over Vietnam, getting their stuttering World Cup qualification campaign back on track in-front of a boisterous AAMI Park crowd.
Rogic was sensational from the off, acting as chief-conductor just behind the Australian front-line, capping off his Man of the Match performance with an inch-perfect delivery for Jamie Maclaren’s opener and a goal on the brink of halftime.
Craig Goodwin and Riley McGree sealed the 4-0 scoreline, scoring their first-ever Socceroos goals late in the piece to put to bed any hope of a comeback by the Golden Star Warriors.
The Socceroos were greeted by a 27,740-strong crowd who braved the tropical elements and provided a sensational soundtrack for both teams - especially the strong Vietnamese fan-base in attendance.
After dropping points in their last three games, the result keeps Australia within touching distance of the automatic qualification slots in Group B heading into another must-win clash against Oman next Wednesday.
With Graham Arnold missing from the touchline due to Covid protocols, assistant Rene Meulensteen took over for the evening and may need to do so again with the latter’s status still in doubt for their trip to Muscat.
The going wasn’t always easy for the Socceroos, struggling at times defensively when Vietnam threatened to cut into their halftime deficit - especially just after halftime.
Had it not been for a smart save from Mat Ryan early in the second-half on Nguyen Cong Phuong, the result could’ve been markedly different - making the crucial stop when the game was still firmly up for grabs.
Australia were able to steady when it mattered, putting their lead-chasing opponents to the sword with two swift counter-attacks late in the piece.
Rogic, the be-all and end-all
There aren’t many better sights in Australian football than when Tom Rogic is at his best.
The Celtic midfielder, who missed the last window due to injury, was a constant presence between the lines from literally for the first-kick of the game and even, albeit disallowed on the first occasion, had the ball in the net twice to go with an assist.
It was what Rogic provided from a creative stand-point which was ultimately the difference.
It became quite simple throughout the 90; when Rogic found time to create and do what he does best - good things happened.
When his teammates couldn’t find him centrally, Australia became one-dimensional and began spamming crosses into the area - which for much of the game played perfectly into the hands of the Vietnamese defenders.
Sporting capital roars to life
There’s no sugar-coating that this was perhaps one of the best Melbourne sporting atmospheres since the onset of the pandemic.
Hours after the Special K’s took over the Melbourne Park precinct, it was the other side of Olympic Boulevard’s turn to bring the noise as AAMI Park was brought to life by a sea of red and gold jerseys.
The Vietnamese fans in particular were the stand-out, making the Golden Star Warriors feel as if they were playing the closest thing to an extra ‘home-game’ away from Hanoi - with the noise at times reaching fever-pitch when they threatened.
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