An Asian Cup quarter-final showdown towards both Saudi Arabia or South Korea awaits the Socceroos after their 4-0 win over Indonesia.
Despite the Indonesians having the higher of the midfield battle for intervals of the round-of-16 conflict at Jassim bin Hamad Stadium, the Australians stretched their unbeaten run to eight matches and inched nearer to event glory.
The Socceroos wanted the assistance of an personal aim from Thailand-born Indonesia defender Elkan Baggott to take the lead contained in the opening quarter of an hour.
Winger Martin Boyle doubled Australia’s lead on the stroke of half-time together with his second aim in two matches after additionally scoring in his facet’s 1-1 Group B draw with Uzbekistan final Tuesday.
Substitute Craig Goodwin – who made his first look for the reason that Socceroos’ opening match of the event, a 2-0 win over India – sealed the win within the 89th minute with a well-taken volley.
Towering defender Harry Souttar offered the icing of the cake in stoppage-time, heading residence a Goodwin free-kick.
However, the scoreline wasn’t a real indication of the competition, with the Indonesians performing higher than a four-goal loss would counsel on paper.
The Socceroos will once more want to enhance if they’re to prevail over both Saudi Arabia or Uzbekistan on Saturday morning (AEDT).
The Australians could have the benefit of a few further days relaxation between matches, with the Saudi Arabia-South Korea round-of-16 battle not going down till Wednesday morning (AEDT).
But the Socceroos will nonetheless have to step up a gear if they’re to progress to the semi-finals.
Indonesia appeared the higher in possession, but it surely was Australia who took the lead – in fortuitous circumstances – within the twelfth minute.
Midfielder Jackson Irvine compelled his method into the opposition’s penalty space earlier than delivering a low cross that took a depraved deflection off Thailand-born Indonesia defender Elkan Baggott earlier than discovering the again of the web.
The Socceroos doubled their lead on the stroke of half-time by way of Boyle, who headed residence a cross from the recalled Gethin Jones on the far publish.
Indonesia’s finest likelihood of the primary half got here in simply the sixth minute when striker Rafael Struick obtained in entrance of Socceroos defender Harry Souttar to be first to a near-post cross from Justin Hubner.
However, a lot to Australia’s reduction, Struick’s intelligent flick was simply off course.
The Indonesians didn’t create a lot within the second half, with the Socceroos’ two late targets sealing the win.
Two modifications
Socceroos coach Graham Arnold made two modifications to the group that began in Australia’s draw with Uzbekistan.
Despite impressing Arnold together with his efficiency at centre-forward, Kusini Yengi dropped again to the bench, with Melbourne Victory ace Bruno Fornaroli getting his first begin for the event after three appearances off the bench.
The different change was in defence, with right-back Gethin Jones recalled on the expense of Nathaniel Atkinson.
Jones was compelled off within the second half with a suspected groin harm, with Atkinson being his alternative.
Source: www.news.com.au
