Five goals, two debuts, and two players scoring their maiden goals for the Socceroos. The 5-0 win over Lebanon on Tuesday that booked Australia’s place in the next round of qualifying was enjoyable for many reasons – and not just because veteran Craig Goodwin delivered an individual performance for the ages.
Coach Graham Arnold was particularly pleased with the performance of a number of rookies, who saw out the game in style.
As the coach told Network 10: “I was very happy & proud of the young ones. They took ownership when they went on the park, and the future is bright.”
Here’s how every player performed in the big win.
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DEFENCE
Maty Ryan: 8
The captain and gloveman wasn’t often troubled in goals, so much so that he delivered a bizarre first-half moment when he took a throw-in! He snaffled a dangerous cross and never looked like dropping the ball in the couple of saves he made. He was, however, beaten by one thunderous long-range shot that rattled the crossbar. Nevertheless, it’s now four clean sheets from four World Cup qualifiers.
Kye Rowles: 7
Playing for the second game in succession at left-back instead of his usual centre-back position, Rowles didn’t manage to back up his maiden international goal from Thursday – but it was still a very, very solid performance. Capped things off by setting up a goal with a beautiful raking ball down the left sideline.
Cameron Burgess: 7
It was another calm and composed performance at the back from Burgess, who was excellent in defence and equally confident passing the ball forward to the midfielders and strikers even in narrow channels.
Harry Souttar: 7.5
Back in Canberra for the first time since his Socceroos debut five years ago, a 5-0 win over Nepal where he scored twice, Souttar came inches away from adding another goal to his tally when he headed the ball into the post late in the first half. For a man of such great heading ability, it was a disappointing miss – but that’s the only sour note on another fine performance. Untroubled at the back, dominant in the air, it was a typical no-fuss effort from the centre-back stalwart.
Gethin Jones: 7
Making just his fifth cap, the former Wales junior international and Bolton Wanderers star certainly made a case that he – not Nathaniel Atkinson – should be the regular right-back.
Could have had an assist in the second half with a nice run down the right line and cross for Mitch Duke, but the striker sent it high.
MIDFIELD
Craig Goodwin: 10
He scored two and set up two more. But more than that: he could have had four assists on another day, such was the quality of his delivery with that magical left boot. Ajdin Hrustic missed one when Goodwin put the ball on a platter in the first half, as did Harry Souttar.
But it didn’t matter in the end, since Goodwin just kept creating chances – and taking them.
It’s hard to recall such a dominant individual performance from a Socceroo in recent times – Harry Souttar’s efforts against Tunisia in the 2022 World Cup come to mind.
The Socceroos sent everything down his left flank in the first half, and he was the only player to deliver a successful cross or pass into the box in the entire first period.
Having missed the first match against Lebanon with a virus picked up on the flight back home, this was a statement performance from the 32-year-old.
He joked to Network 10: “Maybe I’ll have to be sick more often!”
Ajdin Hrustic: 6.5
Hrustic copped plenty of attention from opposition players all night, regularly being harshly tackled – though not all of them were adjudged as fouls by a referee who missed far too many calls on the night. Hrustic showed flashes of brilliance, like his chipped ball to Goodwin for the third goal. But he was scythed down in a horror tackle in the 51st minute and could be set for another long stint on the sidelines, which is a massive blow given he only just returned to the Socceroos’ fold this camp.
Jackson Irvine: 6
The midfield general had to play a deeper role in this game with his usual defensive-midfield pivot Keanu Baccus out with suspension, but Irvine was more than capable of running the show from further back. Playing right alongside his club teammate Metcalfe in the heart of midfield, the two formed a potent combination all night – distributing the ball quickly to the left for Goodwin to run riot. It wasn’t a game which Irvine grabbed by the scruff of the neck and took control in the midfield, but it was a typically solid effort.
Connor Metcalfe: 6
There’s a reason that Metcalfe has become one of the first names on the team sheet for Graham Arnold – in fact, he’s played every game since the 2022 World Cup, and started the vast majority. Metcalfe is coming along in leaps and bounds since moving to Germany to join Irvine at FC St Pauli, and he delivered another strong performance in Canberra. He tackled hard, battled tirelessly for the ball in the first half, and linked up well with his teammates. There were a few mistakes, but he’s becoming an increasingly important – and reliable – part of the Socceroos’ engine room.
STRIKERS
Kusini Yengi: 7
No Socceroos striker had scored in six-straight matches. Then Craig Goodwin set up his former Adelaide United teammate Yengi for the young gun’s maiden Socceroos goal.
The pair did Goodwin’s trademark celebration together in an emotional moment.
Kusini Yengi said to Network 10: “To score my first goal is amazing.
“Me and Goody have a great connection. We played together at Adelaide. He assisted my first professional goal at Adelaide and now assisted my first goal at the Socceroos. It’s an amazing moment for me and to have that moment with Goody as well is even more special.”
His penetration and running behind the lines was excellent all night, while his confidence was on full display.
In a stacked list of strikers in the squad, vying for contention, it was a statement that he is the man to take the number nine jersey in the long term.
“That position is up for grabs and I’m hoping to fill that position,” he said.
Mitchell Duke: 6.5
It was a relatively quiet night by his high standards, but Duke’s hard work in pressing was a key unseen factor in the Socceroos’ success. Also crucial to the Socceroos’ improvement compared to Thursday was the way Duke dropped back to receive possession, dragging defenders out of position and setting up his teammates.
SUBSTITUTES
Patrick Yazbek: 8
The 21-year-old midfielder looked completely at home on his debut – and against the other nation he was eligible to represent. Lebanon’s head coach had taken a dig at Yazbek in his pre-match press conference, saying the youngster would have been better being a ‘leader’ for Lebanon’s team rather than sitting on the bench for Australia. Well, when Yazbek came off the bench, he showed exactly why Lebanon tried so hard to convince him to represent them.
Yazbek told Network 10: “Honestly, I just can’t wish for a better debut … I’ve always wanted to be a Socceroo, I’ve got all these photos in my room, ever since I’ve been young. It’s a dream come true.”
Just minutes after entering the pitch, he set up Australia’s fourth goal with a neat cross from the left flank, and the rest of his work was near-flawless.
Yazbek said of the assist: “It’s something that I’ll definitely remember forever. I’ll probably watch it back a couple of times!”
John Iredale: 8
Iredale impressed on his debut on Thursday, and was even better this time around, scoring his maiden goal in the green and gold (or, as was the case on Tuesday, the blue and blue). The goal was set up by Yazbek just seconds after Iredale entered the pitch, and the young striker burst into tears as he embraced his teammates. Iredale then set up Goodwin for the final goal.
Josh Nisbet: 7
Socceroo number 642 has had to wait a while for his opportunity, and the diminutive midfielder never looked overawed by the occasion when it finally came. The Central Coast Mariners star, just 24, passed crisply and was often first to the loose ball in the closing stages. There’s plenty more to come.
Thomas Deng: N/A
He’s fallen down the centre-back pecking order a bit with Souttar, Burgess and Rowles locking up those spots. But Deng got a small run-out in the dying minutes and showed he’s still ready to fight for his place in the team.
Samuel Silvera: N/A
Didn’t have enough time to make an impact on the flank, but looked lively.