The Socceroos have performed out a 2-2 draw with Mexico, main by two targets earlier than a pair of defensive errors gifted Mexico two second-half strikes in a dramatic pleasant in Dallas.
Australian centre-back Harry Souttar struck with a glancing header from a Martin Boyle nook within the sixteenth minute, with the Socceroos impressing with their counter-attacking within the first half.
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But the match lifted in depth after the half-time break, with Mexico pouring ahead and profitable a penalty ten minutes after the interval – solely to hit the put up with the trouble from 12 yards.
The Socceroos gained a penalty of their very own after an hour when Riley McGree darted between two defenders into the field and was scythed down, with Martin Boyle changing for a two-goal lead.
But Mexico roared again into the sport by a profitable Raul Jimenez penalty of their very own after Socceroos debutant Cameron Burgess pushed a rival within the field.
Then Souttar went from hero to zero with a calamitous mistake within the 84th minute, leaving an extended ball in a miscommunication with goalkeeper Maty Ryan, which bounced within the field and allowed a second Mexico substitute, Cesar Huerta, to attain the equaliser.
And Australia’s disastrous second half was additional soured by two accidents – with Mitch Duke substituted with a hamstring niggle earlier than Jackson Irvine was stretchered off with an ankle harm.
The 2026 World Cup is being held in Mexico, the United States and Canada – with this match
in opposition to the world’s Twelfth-ranked crew an early alternative for Australia to accustom themselves to enjoying in North America.
The conflict was an useful alternative for a fresh-faced Socceroos facet to gel forward of the beginning of World Cup qualifying in November, with the Asian Cup a key precedence in Qatar in January.
Following Aaron Mooy’s retirement, it was an important probability for Graham Arnold to check his midfield combos, whereas he additionally handed a beginning debut Cameron Burgess within the centre of defence alongside Souttar.
Souttar is out of favour at English Championship facet Leicester City, however the towering centre-back opened the scoring for Australia with a glancing header into the underside nook from a Martin Boyle nook.
The objective – Souttar’s seventh in 17 Socceroos appearances – got here within the sixteenth minute after a scrappy begin on a particularly poor synthetic pitch at AT&T Stadium, dwelling of NFL facet the Dallas Cowboys.
It adopted coach Graham Arnold yesterday talking about Souttar’s tough membership state of affairs, having not performed in nearly 4 months.
Arnold mentioned: “My message to him is simple and that is, this is your stage. This is your opportunity to show your coach at Leicester and ask the question why you’re not playing, and show the fans how good you really are.
“He’s got to use that as motivation to go out there tomorrow and show everyone that’s watching this game who Harry Souttar is.”
After shedding possession repeatedly as they struggled to come back to phrases within the opening minutes with the watered synthetic pitch, the Socceroos settled after the opening ten minutes and commenced to wrestle their means into the match.
They started to stretch and pressure the Mexico defence, notably on the counter-attack – with Mexico dominating possession however the Socceroos turning the ball over and flooding ahead at tempo.
Jackson Irvine was notably distinctive in each turning the ball over in midfield and distributing it ahead, linking effectively with Keanu Baccus within the coronary heart of the park.`
Australia continued to strain the Mexican defence within the first half-hour, with Irvine almost discovering Martin Boyle on the again put up with a cross that was simply inches over the top of the pacy winger – the Socceroos greatest probability moreover the objective.
Despite the burden of possession, Mexico struggled to create sturdy probabilities in entrance of objective, with their first shot on course coming within the thirty sixth minute after a neat back-heel cross into the field noticed a first-time shot lashed in direction of Australian captain Mat Ryan.
Pressure was constructing on the Socceroos, with Mexico repeatedly bombing the ball into the field from extensive areas and racking up corners, forcing the Socceroos to defend with their backs in opposition to the wall.
In the forty third minute, there was a scary second for the Australian defence because the ball bounced down within the space after a cross was whipped in from the correct.
Right-back Nathaniel Atkinson was pressured to scramble as a Mexico striker raced in direction of the ball, however managed to get a toe to the ball with a determined lunging deal with which additionally collected his opponent, sparking requires a penalty which had been waved away by the referee.
Veteran striker Mitch Duke obtained a reserving within the forty sixth minute for a excessive boot which sparked a push-and-shove with defender Edson Alvarez as stress rose, with the pair once more butting heads as they marched off the sector for half-time.
Mexico emerged from half-time with renewed depth, and their strain lastly informed on the Socceroos defence when Mexico gained a penalty within the 54th minute for a handball from Keanu Baccus.
But Santiago Gimenez slammed his shot into the left put up, handing the Socceroos a significant reprieve.
And the Socceroos gained a penalty of their very own after the hour mark when Riley McGree darted between a pair of defenders Luis Romo and Julian Araujo and was taken out by each gamers as he raced into the field.
Martin Boyle stepped up – after some mind-games from the Mexican keeper Guillermo Ochoa – and slammed his shot into the again of the online.
It was his first worldwide objective since October 2021 in opposition to Oman, in his first match because the World Cup play-off in opposition to Peru final 12 months.
Both sides turned to the bench, with Arnold sending on Denis Genreau and Nick D’Agostino for Connor Metcalfe and Mitch Duke, the latter showing to endure a hamstring subject.
But the match turned on its head as soon as once more with a 3rd penalty of the match – and a second for Mexico.
It got here within the 69th minute, simply six minutes after Boyle had lashed his shot dwelling, with Burgess on debut shoving opponent Uriel Antuna within the again as they raced to get on the top of an extended ball into the Australian field – one which Maty Ryan ought to most likely have claimed.
Veteran striker Raul Jimenez of Fulham calmly transformed from the spot, having come off the bench within the second interval.
Australia responded by bringing on Middlesbrough’s Sam Silvera for his debut off the bench, changing Boyle.
Mexico desperately chased an equaliser, however the Socceroos defended grimly – just for an absolute catastrophe on the again to see the scores levelled within the 84th minute.
Mexico launched one other lengthy ball over the again line, which appeared a routine one for Souttar to move clear. But on the final minute, he ducked beneath the ball, seemingly in an try to let Ryan declare it.
But the ball bounced and Cesar Huerta snuck in between the 2 Australian gamers to slam the ball into the online and power a draw.
Originally revealed as Moment of insanity as Socceroos blow probability at Mexico upset
Source: www.news.com.au
