A 10-man Socceroos outfit have made a disastrous start to the latest round of FIFA World Cup qualifiers, losing 1-0 to Bahrain in a huge boilover at Robina Stadium.
Having had striker Kusini Yengi sent off in the 77th minute, the Socceroos’ Thursday night went from bad to worse 12 minutes later when a cross from Bahrain defender Abdulla Al-Khulasi deflected off defender Harry Souttar and snuck in at the near post past stranded goalkeeper Mat Ryan.
It left the crowd of almost 25,000 stunned, with the Socceroos unable to find a stoppage-time equaliser despite substitute Mitch Duke having a great opportunity to score with a header that failed to hit the target.
Duke’s miss was part of an ordinary night in attack for the hosts, who had been expected to dominate on home soil.
Instead, they too often looked devoid of ideas in attack against the resolute visitors.
Yengi’s direct red card added to Australia’s woes.
The Portsmouth marksman collected the neck of Bahraini defender Sayed Baqer with a high boot, giving UAE referee Omar Al-Ali little option but to send him off.
It capped off a poor night for Yengi, who was knocked off the ball too easily and was part of an Australian attacking unit that failed to fire.
Defender Alessandro Circati had an early chance for the Socceroos with a deflected shot from the edge of the penalty area in the second minute that forced a save out of Bahrain goalkeeper Ebrahim Lutfalla.
But Lutfalla wasn’t tested for the rest of the first half as the Socceroos struggled to break down a well-organised and resolute Bahrain defence
Genuine chances were few and far between for a Socceroos outfit that became increasingly frustrated and lost for ideas.
Winger Craig Goodwin was Australia’s most dangerous player in attack, with his crosses providing opportunities for midfielder Aiden O’Neill and striker Kusini Yengi in the 33rd and 43rd minutes respectively.
But neither could hit the target, with Yengi’s failure to score from inside the six-yard box part of an unhappy first-half performance from the Portsmouth marksman.
Irankunda among the substitutes
Having debated whether to start teenage sensation Nestory Irankunda or have him come off the bench, Socceroos coach Graham Arnold opted for the latter.
Irankunda eventually came on with half an hour remaining but couldn’t make a difference.
As expected, 20-year-old defender Alessandro Circati a first-team regular with Italian top-flight club Parma – was named in the starting line-up.
However, rather than being used in the centre of the Socceroos defence, Circati was named at right-back, a position not totally foreign to him.
Australia’s central defensive pairing was the towering Harry Souttar and Kye Rowles, who realised a childhood dream by playing for the Socceroos in his home city of the Gold Coast.
Left-back Aziz Behich completed the hosts’ back-four, with the Melbourne City captain the only A-League player in the starting team.
Queenslander Aiden O’Neill was rewarded for his good start to the Belgian season with Standard Liege by being named in a three-man midfielder with St. Pauli pair Jackson Irvine and Connor Metcalfe.
In attack, wingers Martin Boyle and Craig Goodwin flanked centre-forward Kusini Yengi.
Regular skipper and goalkeeper Mat Ryan, who missed the June qualifiers against Bangladesh and Palestine with a knee problem, took his usual place between the posts despite his lack of club football since moving to Italian club Roma.
The only two members of Australia’s 24-man squad not considered for selection were midfielder Keanu Baccus and right-back Lewis Miller, who had respective hamstring and knee problems.