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Key occasions
64 minutes: One other delay as Sandy Walsh crumbles beneath three Australian defenders. The Indonesia midfielder awaits some consideration whereas the Mexican wave units off round Sydney Soccer Stadium.
62 minutes: Miller now has a aim to go together with incomes the penalty that opened the scoring, whereas Nishan Velupillay has additionally scored as soon as and performed a key function in one other. Socceroos coach Tony Popovic shall be quietly happy together with his picks.
GOAL! Australia 4-0 (Miller 61)
Lewis Miller reads the flight of Craig Goodwin’s nook finest to dive ahead and nod residence a strong header.
58 minutes: It’s not solely the Socceroos defence that’s due a breather. Indonesia midfielder Mees Hilgers takes a seat in the midst of the pitch wanting in some discomfort. The stretcher comes out however he waves that away earlier than strolling off to get replaced by Sandy Walsh.
56 minutes: The Socceroos have barely made their manner out of the defensive half because the break. An extended ball from Rowles offers them some respite.
53 minutes: Romenij isn’t finished but as he bursts vast and swings a left boot to ship a shot towards the far publish. Australia captain Ryan shortly will get down low and holds onto the ball together with his left mit. That needs to be a get up name for the Socceroos, on the off likelihood they wanted one.
52 minutes: One other nice save from Ryan! And one other robust interval for Indonesia involves nothing. Miller nearly heads the ball again into the web as Ryan comes off his line making an attempt to clear a cross, however the keeper can’t get sufficient on the ball earlier than it trickles vast of the publish for a nook.
51 minutes: Calvin Verdonk ends the lengthy wait to take the free kick and its nothing however an anti-climax has he slams the shot into the wall. Nook for Indonesia.
49 minutes: An innocuous bomb ahead earns a free kick for Indonesia simply exterior the field. Cam Burgess was leaning over Ole Romenij however the Indonesian attacker appeared to instigate all of the contact.
47 minutes: Australia have swung a few adjustments to their assault with Craig Goodwin and Brandon Borrello getting into the fray as Martin Boyle and Adam Taggart make manner.
46 minutes: The second half will get beneath manner and simply as they did about an hour in the past Indonesia are instantly on the assault.
Australia have constructed their 3-0 lead off the again of their solely three pictures on aim, whereas Indonesia have had a few pictures with one on track. Indonesia have maybe performed into the Socceroos’ palms by having 59% possession and giving the hosts house to run into.
Half-time: Australia 3-0 Indonesia
The Socceroos head down the tunnel in command of the sport at 3-0 however there was a lot much less between the 2 groups than that rating suggests. Indonesia made the early working and may need opened the scoring however for a pointy save from Maty Ryan and a mis-fired spot kick from Kevin Diks. Australia went on to make Indonesia pay an enormous worth for these missed alternatives as Martin Boyle nailed his personal penalty after a sloppy free kick on Lewis Miller off a nook.
Younger Socceroos attacker Nishan Velupillay then silenced any doubters over his place within the facet as he ran clear and onto a protracted go from Adam Taggart to chip over keeper Paes beneath little strain. Velupillay quickly turned supplier with a slicing run that ended with the ball at Jackson Irvine’s ft not as soon as however twice, because the midfielder prolonged the lead. We’ll be again shortly to learn the way Indonesia reply.
48 minutes: A bit extra grappling creeps into the competition with the gamers slowing down as we edge in the direction of half-time. We’re but to see a warning although.
46 minutes: Six minutes of added time appears beneficiant with few breaks apart from to get second opinions for a pair of penalty calls. No complaints right here although!
44 minutes: Indonesia proceed to work away on the left with hints of success. The guests decide up one other nook however Mees Hilgers’ header floats excessive for a aim kick.
42 minutes: The third Australia aim has taken a little bit of sting out of the sport because the break approaches. That’s a minimum of till Romenij nearly creates one thing out of nothing as he will get off a shot that Geria solely simply will get a foot on.
40 minutes: This contest has turned Australia’s manner as a strong problem from Irvine exterior their defensive penalty field is waved away as the house facet clear.
38 minutes: Indonesia hold pushing ahead however the threat of leaving the again door open stays as Taggart nearly finds a manner by way of on the midway line.
36 minutes: Australia have been joyful to play with out the ball however have pulled away to a commanding lead. The second goalscorer, Nishan Velupillay, has one other shot however a deflection takes it vast for a nook.
GOAL! Australia 3-0 Indonesia (Irvine 34)
Jackson Irvine finishes a intelligent transfer from the Socceroos on the second try. Intricate passing on the prime of the field finally ends up with Martin Boyle on the fitting however his speculative cross appears to be like to have wasted the chance till a deflection takes the ball to Irvine standing on prime of the spot. A unbelievable save from Paes retains out the primary strike, however the rebound finally ends up with Irvine to hammer residence.
32 minutes: The Socceroos are wanting extra snug on the again now after being overwhelmed within the opening 10 minutes.
30 minutes: Ole Romenij wins a race to the ball down the left however his cross in the direction of Indonesia and Brisbane Roar attacker Rafael Struick making his manner into the field is lower off by Kye Rowles.
28 minutes: Indonesia are joyful to knock the ball across the again however keeper Paes places hearts in mouths as a pause on the ball nearly permits Taggart to shut him down.
26 minutes: A second of serenity as Indonesia lastly settle for it’s of their pursuits to sluggish the sport down a bit.
24 minutes: A defensive error from Kevin Diks nearly presents Aziz Behich with a shot on aim. The Indonesia defender appears to be like to go again to his keeper from exterior the penalty field however the ball falls effectively brief. Behich may need tried his luck on the volley earlier than Diks tidies up his mess with a greater header to Paes.
22 minutes: Indonesia are exhibiting few indicators of getting simply given up two objectives as they proceed to assault. The ball bounces from one finish to the opposite and again once more. This has been a chaotically sensible opening.
GOAL! Australia 2-0 Indonesia (Velupillay, 20)
What a turnaround! Two objectives in as many minutes as Adam Taggart wins the ball again for the Socceroos and releases Nishan Velupillay charging by way of the center all on his personal. The Melbourne Victory attacker knocks the ball over advancing Indonesia keeper Maarten Paes to provide Australia a immediately robust benefit.
GOAL! Australia 1-0 Indonesia (Boyle, 18)
Martin Boyle steps as much as the spot and casually slams the ball into the underside left nook. That’ll be an enormous aid for Australia after the blazing begin from Indonesia.
15 minutes: Whereas the Socceross put together to take a nook following Boyle’s strike, the sport has paused and the referee is known as to evaluation the tussle between Miller and Nathan Tjoe A On. Penalty to Australia!
14 minutes: A primary nook for the Socceroos who’re lastly settling into the competition. Martin Boyle crosses the ball in earlier than Lewis Miller is wrapped up and brought to floor. Indonesia clear with a header however Boyle quickly has possession once more and his deflected shot sails simply vast of the far publish.
12 minutes: The Socceroos spend a while of their attacking half with out threatening the penalty field. Indonesia play out comfortably and all however bypass the midfield with an beautiful crossfield go.
10 minutes: It has been a scintillating begin from Indonesia however Diks’ missed penalty means the guests have didn’t take a deserved lead. Australia have to get a foothold within the sport earlier than it will get away from them.
Diks misses from the spot!
8 minutes: Kevin Diks hits the publish! The penalty kick was hammered to the left of Maty Ryan however Diks fails to transform.
Penalty to Indonesia!
7 minutes: Rafael Struick learn a protracted ball higher than Cam Burgess, Kye Rowles comes throughout to cowl and swings a leg. There may be hardly a contact on the striker’s leg however VAR clears the choice.
5 minutes: Unbelievable save from Maty Ryan! And a warning shot for the Socceroos. Nishan Velupillay offers away a pointless free kick in Indonesia’s attacking half, Calvin Verdonk whips within the cross and their captain Jay Noah Idzes nearly glances a header into the web.
3 minutes: The Socceroos have their first search for entrance as Ole Lennard Romenij, in any other case of Oxford United, wins the ball in a troublesome problem and tries to launch Indonesia down the left. The tempo of Jason Geria covers any hazard.
1 min: Indonesia kick off and shortly discover on the fitting in house Ole Lennard Romenij.
The gamers are in place and right here we go … peeeeep!
Now it’s the native facet’s flip for a singalong as Advance Australia Truthful is belted out each on the pitch and within the stands. Can already really feel vitality coming from the stands with an honest end up of punters.
The guests’ nationwide anthem, Indonesia Raya (which roughly interprets as Indonesia the Nice) takes over Sydney Soccer Stadium as one finish is filled with a sea of crimson and extra shirts of the identical hue are dotted across the floor.
Andy de la Rue has kindly jogged my memory {that a} climate forecast is known as for. Within the tried and true technique of popping a head out the window at Sydney Soccer Stadium, and peeping by way of the haze of fireworks smoke, I can affirm the sky is obvious because the temperature hovers across the mid 20s.
Good circumstances for soccer, actually.
The Socceroos and Indonesia are moments away from making their manner onto the pitch at Sydney Soccer Stadium with kick-off scheduled for 8.10pm. Simply sufficient time to compensate for the qualification state of play throughout all of the areas for the 48 spots on the 2026 World Cup.
Indonesia’s main naturalisation program has lifted their high quality and choices throughout the pitch and is a minimum of partly behind solely 5 starters from their earlier conflict with Australia returning to the XI for coach Patrick Kluivert’s first match in cost. Marselino Ferdinan would be the solely Indonesian-born participant within the beginning XI, whereas the Socceroos have their very own import in Martin Boyle.
John Duerden says {that a} extra aggressive and expansive Indonesia could possibly be a lift for Australia on as a lot as off the pitch.
For event regulars Australia, a house defeat to Indonesia can be painful however, a minimum of, sign that the 2 neighbours can push one another to higher heights. As an alternative of seeking to a rustic on the alternative finish of a mighty ocean, there can be one simply the opposite facet of the Timor Sea.
Indonesia XI
Indonesia look set to line up in a 3-5-2 formation with their midfield filled with defensive muscle.
Maarten Vincent Paes; Calvin Verdonk, Dean James, Nathan Tjoe A On; Mees Hilgers, Thom Jan Haye, Marselino Ferdinan, Kevin Diks, Jay Noah Idzes (capt); Rafael William Struick, Ole Lennard Romenij.
Australia XI
Tony Popovic made a giant name in leaving ahead Mitchell Duke out of the squad and has made a fair greater name in leaving pacey attacker Craig Goodwin out of the beginning lineup with Martin Boyle to play in his place in a 5-2-3. Maty Ryan is again in aim and can put on the captain’s armband.
Maty Ryan (capt); Lewis Miller, Jason Geria, Cameron Burgess, Kye Rowles, Aziz Behich; Jackson Irvine, Aiden O’Neill; Nishan Velupillay, Adam Taggart, Martin Boyle.
Coach Tony Popovic gained’t be letting any complacency creep into his Socceroos facet towards Indonesia particularly with the race for a spot on the 2026 World Cup so tight and tense and the neighbouring nation evidently on the rise.
The expectation of the Australian public, is that they need to anticipate their nationwide crew to provide and to play good soccer. Then I anticipate each Australian to get behind the crew tomorrow, which is what we would like and we all know that that’ll assist us tomorrow evening.
Preamble
Martin Pegan
Hiya and welcome to reside protection of the 2026 World Cup qualifier between Australia and Indonesia at Sydney Soccer Stadium (identified to most in these elements as Allianz Stadium). The Socceroos are out to tighten their somewhat unfastened grip on second place in Group C of Asian qualification and edge nearer to a spot at subsequent yr’s showpiece occasion within the US, Mexico and Canada.
Coach Tony Popovic’s facet presently sit within the vital second place within the group that can in brief time routinely qualify for the World Cup. However the margins may hardly be finer with Australia on seven factors from six matches, whereas tonight’s opponents Indonesia, in addition to Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and China are only one level behind within the five-way battle for what has develop into a single prized spot. Tearaway leaders Japan are already on 16 factors and all however assured of taking the opposite spot and will even e book their ticket to North America with a win at residence towards Bahrain tonight or if different outcomes merely fall their manner. With Saudi Arabia internet hosting China within the group’s different conflict within the wee hours of tomorrow morning (AEDT), Australia want a constructive lead to Sydney to on the very least hold their hopes in their very own palms.
Indonesia efficiently annoyed Australia with a decided, low block when these two sides final met within the second batch of Group C matches final September, holding the six-time World Cup qualifiers to a 0-0 attract what proved to be coach Graham Arnold’s final match in cost. Popovic took the Socceroos’ reins simply days later and first led the crew to win at residence over China and a gallant attract Japan, earlier than much less spectacular performances in attracts with Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. That’s the state of play in Group C as we enter traditional “must-win” areas which needs to be greater than sufficient to make sure a tense, cagey contest.
Kick-off is at 8.10pm AEDT. I’ll be again shortly with the line-ups and crew information.
Keep in mind to get in contact with any feedback, questions, ideas and predictions. You may shoot me an e mail, or discover me on X @martinpegan and Bluesky @martinpegan.bsky.social. Let’s get into it!
IT’S MATCHDAY IN SYDNEY! 🙌
🆚: Indonesia 🇮🇩
⏰: 8:00pm AEDT
🏟️: Sydney Soccer Stadium
📱💻📺: Dwell on 10, Paramount+, 10 Play
📻: ABC Radio by way of the ABC Pay attention App#Socceroos #FeelNewSydney— Subway Socceroos (@Socceroos) March 19, 2025