Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.
THE more things change, the more they stay the same. Ange Postecoglou's reign as coach of the Socceroos opened with a win over Costa Rica last night, courtesy of the most tried and trusted source of all.
A Tim Cahill header with 21 minutes left meant all but a red-clad handful of the 20,165 crowd went home content.
Cahill's goal brought him level with Damian Mori as the Socceroos' leading scorer on 29 goals for his country, making a point after coming on as a second-half substitute.
Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou acknowledges fans at fulltime. Source: Getty Images
If the goal was a mite fortunate, and if Costa Rica were both understrength and underwhelming, there was still enough to savour from the home side to suggest Postecoglou's changes are taking root.
A clean sheet was a welcome basis for the performance, and for patches of the game there was both control and penetration from some encouraging one-touch football. But the narrowness of the margins involved was starkly illustrated right at the start.
Tim Cahill of the Socceroos celebrates scoring the first goal. Source: Getty Images
For so many reasons the Socceroos neeeded a bright opening - not just to emphasisie the change of coach, but also to expunge the awful memories of losing 6-0 twice in a row.
Instead they almost had disaster. Shepherding a bouncing ball back towards his goalkeeper, Jason Davidson suddenly headed it over Mathew Ryan rather than to him. As the ball bounced goalwards, only Ivan Franjic's magnificently athletic clearance averted calamity.
Treasuring their good fortune Australia went on the attack, searching for the first goal of the Postecoglou regime. Milligan tested the Costa Rican defence with several incisive passes - from the first, Leckie's flicked finish was saved by the goalkeeper's face, then Kruse was sent clear but after a perfect first touch, mislaid the ball with his second.
Tim Cahill of Australia celebrates. Source: Getty Images
Mile Jedinak's stabbed shot from a corner tested goalkeeper Patrick Pemberton, as the Socceroos manufactured chances without quite finding the key to the door.
Without the bouyancy of a goal, the tempo fell away slightlly towards halftime, the speed of transition too slow. Given the ball at speed Bresciano looked every inch a playmaker, but too often he was a heavily marked man by the time the ball was sent his way.
As if to prove the point, Australia finished the half with a move of alacrity that so nearly broke the deadlock. Rapidfire passing from Jedinak to Bresciano to Kruse sent the Bayer Leverkeusen winger haring down the right, and his cross to the far post found Matthew Leckie unmarked.
Party time for the Socceroos. Source: Getty Images
Sadly for the Frankfurt forward, he could only find the stand behind the goal with his shot.
Predictably, Postecoglou began to rotate his bench - first Ryan McGowan and then Tim Cahill came on, but it was Jedinak who almost broke through. His own power created it, executing a neat one two with Kruse before powering through two challenges but pulling his shot just wide from 20m.
With an hour gone more changes appeared - Tommy Oar on for Vidosic, and to popular acclaim, Tom Rogic in place of Bresciano. Immediately it was apparent why, as the Celtic midfielder turned four players in the centre circle, strode upfield and was crudely brought down as he approached the Costa Rican box.
If Jedinak's subsequent freekick was tame, the intent to attack again was there - and finally the goal arrived. Oar won a corner on the left side, and the resultant cross was met by Cahill's head at the far post, the ball striking a defender's knee and rolling inside the post.
More new faces appeared - Matt McKay and Josh Kennedy on for Milligan and Kruse, and more brilliance from Rogic almost set Kennedy away, denied only by a desperate tackle from Michael Umana. But in the end, Cahill's strike was enough.
Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang
Ange's 'Roos era opens with win
Dengan url
http://sportifoclube.blogspot.com/2013/11/anges-roos-era-opens-with-win.html
Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya
Ange's 'Roos era opens with win
namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link
Ange's 'Roos era opens with win
sebagai sumbernya
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar