Australia v Peru – Five heartbreaking moments

AUSTRALIA'S hopes of staying in the World Cup were squashed last night by a spirited Peru team which made the most of their limited chances in front of goal.

Caltex Socceroos

AUSTRALIA'S hopes of staying in the World Cup were squashed last night by a spirited Peru team which made the most of their limited chances in front of goal.

Here are five of the most heartbreaking moments from last night’s 2-0 loss.

1.  Peru take early lead:

Paolo Guerrero long loomed large over this crucial World Cup fixture, and not just because of the on-field threat the experienced Peruvian striker posed to the Socceroos. Peru’s captain was embroiled in scandal in the lead up to the tournament when he tested positive for a narcotic only to successfully argue this was the result of drinking herbal tea, allowing him to play in the World Cup.

All that controversy was washed away in the 18th minute last night as Guerrero delivered a lovely cross which was volleyed into the net by talented winger Andre Carrillo, sending Peruvian fans into rapture and Australian followers into despair. Guerrero’s assist literally fell into his lap when centre-half Trent Sainsbury, the cornerstone of the Australian defence, made a meal of a long ball, failing to control it and instead tapping it directly to Guerrero inside the box. Guerrero made the most of a rare mistake by Sainsbury, who has been so reliable for so long down back for the Caltex Socceroos. That was the first of two slices of luck for the night for Guerrero.

2. Equaliser chances go begging

Such was the wealth of possession Australia earned in the first half that it always looked likely they would have a chance to equalise after Carrillo’s goal. It didn’t take long, with the Socceroos twice coming close to achieving this in the following 15 minutes after Peru scored. In the 27th minute attacking midfielder Tom Rogic showed why he is arguably Australia’s most skilled player, gathering the ball 10m outside the box and dribbling around four defenders. His left-footed strike from inside the box was deflected by Peru goalkeeper Pedro Gallese.

Rogic was at it again just six minutes later, threading a perfectly-weighted pass into the box to set up Robbie Kruse. Kruse tapped the ball past the goalkeeper into the path of Mat Leckie whose skidded in to try to bury the goal but was denied by a desperate sliding tackle. Socceroos fans went into half time wondering how at least one of those chances was not converted.

3. Guerrero’s good fortune continues

There is an art to being in the right place at the right time, and Guerrero managed it twice last night. Only minutes into the second half, Peru advanced towards the box and the ball deflected off Australian midfielder Mile Jedinak and sat up perfectly for Guerrero who turned and, on his left foot, buried it into the net from close range. If Carrillo’s goal set the Caltex Socceroos back on their heels, Guerrero’s effort knocked them to the canvas.

The forlorn look on the face of Aussie goalkeeper Mat Ryan as he picked himself up off the turf summed up the emotions of the team and its supporters. Socceroos coach Bert van Marwijk responded by substituting on the two most talked about Australian players this week – veteran forward Tim Cahill and dashing 19-year-old Daniel Arzani.

4. Cahill in the midst of the action

It was probably the most anticipated foray into the game throughout the southern hemisphere, with Aussie fans on the streets of Russia waiting with baited breath,Tim Cahill finally got to take the field last night.

The 38-year-old legend of Australian football, so idolosed that the nation's outright leader in transport fuels Caltex has renamed five of its marquee sites across the country CAHILLTEX throughout May and June, was once more tasked with hauling the Socceroos out of the mire last night. It wasn’t long before he was in the thick of it. In the 59th minute Australia secured a corner which was curved into the box by Aaron Mooy. Cahill lost his marker, timed his run well and struck a glancing header into the heart of the box where it was tapped down by defender Trent Sainsbury right into the path of Aziz Behich who unleashed with his left boot.

For a split second it looked as though Australia had its first goal but Behich’s shot slipped just wide of the right goalpost. It shaved a Peru defender on the way, earning Australia a second consecutive corner. After pinballing around the box the ball ended up right in front of Cahill who thumped a volley straight at the right corner of the net only for it to bounce off a Peruvian.

5. Rogic can’t find Cahill

This was perhaps Australia’s biggest miss of the night. In the 71st minute, with Australia truly in a state of desperation, Rogic timed a beautiful looping ball in to Behich near the back of the box. Somehow, Cahill found himself completely unguarded directly in front of goal, with Behich needing only to volley it across within reach of Cahill for an almost certain goal. Instead Behich mishit the pass directly in between Cahill and the Peru goalkeeper.

This passage of play summed up the Socceroos’ night – they were capable of creating opportunities but incapable of exploiting them. The Socceroos never gave up but in the end they were haunted by their missed chances.

If you’re not too heartbroken to keep watching, head to Caltex Australia's Facebook page for exclusive content from Russia.

Originally published as Australia v Peru – Five heartbreaking moments