Dignity is restored, and the Socceroos have put themselves in the box seat to reach the Asian Cup’s knockout stages after sweeping aside Palestine 3-0.
Jamie Maclaren finally broke his international duck and Awer Mabil ensured two first-half goals within the space of two minutes, before substitute Apostolos Giannou added a last-gasp third in Dubai last night to silence Australia’s mounting critics and steer their tournament defence back on track.
Sunday’s static 1-0 loss to Jordan had left little margin for error, and defeat at a packed Rashid Stadium would likely have meant an embarrassing group-stage exit and turned the blowtorch on Graham Arnold.
But the new coach got the reaction he’d demanded via a markedly improved collective performance, underscored by the reawakening of Tom Rogic and bursting runs of Chris Ikonomidis.
If Rogic was anonymous against Jordan, his influence was heavily felt here, while Ikonomidis’ two-assist display on promotion will render it difficult for Robbie Kruse to crack back into the starting XI.
Australia used width wisely and captain Mark Milligan was the fulcrum, the source of a more direct approach that, while unlikely to strike fear into the hearts of trophy fancies like South Korea and Iran, will have them bristling with confidence ahead of their third and final group clash with Syria.
However Arnold will be forced into a defensive reshuffle after Trent Sainsbury copped a late yellow card – his second of the tournament – for time-wasting, meaning he’ll be suspended.
Read the article by Emma Kemp in The Daily Telegraph.