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The Socceroos left a lot to be desired against the United States. Coach Tony Popovic has blamed the heat (and a contentious call) for a “sluggish” first half in Seattle.
Former Socceroos players have blamed Popovic’s decision not to start first match goal-scoring stars Nestory Irankunda and Connor Metcalfe. Tactics have been questioned and criticised, and praise afford to the United States’ approach under Mauricio Pochettino.
What can be gleaned from three of the match’s key moments?
The opener
Yes, this was recorded as a Cameron Burgess own goal, but the centre-back’s unfortunate final touch was almost an afterthought to what had come directly before it. Which is to say that the opening goal is less memorable for the actual goal than for being one of many examples showcasing how the US were able to draw their opponents out of position and capitalise.
This was especially the case in wide areas, where wing-backs Jacob Italiano and Jordy Bos were repeatedly dragged out, and Australia’s 5-4-1 shape was left distorted and exposed by the Americans’ pace.
In this instance, right wing-back Italiano steps into the neatly laid trap. Near the halfway line, the backline get to work. Tim Ream passes directly from left to right before its recipient, Alex Freeman, starts the ball’s return journey via short passes to Chris Richards and then back to Ream. At this moment, Mat Leckie advances to put Ream under pressure, and the latter strokes the ball even further left to Antonee Robinson.
Robinson is unmarked, which lures Italiano forward and wide until he is almost hugging the halfway line and the touchline. It leaves Australia’s right defensive side open for the fleet-footed Folarin Balogun to run onto Robinson’s ball in behind and beat Alessandro Circati in a one-on-one race towards the byline, before getting away the cutback that clips the outside of Burgess’ ankle and deflects into his own net.
Undoubtedly, Burgess could have done better to avoid conceding in this manner. And it is true he seemed disorientated by goalkeeper Patrick Beach, who hesitated in his six-yard box and then appeared to make a move for a near-post clearance but failed to connect. Neither, however, would have found themselves in such a position if not for the US’s relentless targeting of Australia’s flanks.
Set play
The second goal is unlike the first in that it is more of a self-contained moment. One that screams: “Could somebody for the love of [insert relevant monotheistic deity here] just mark Sergino Dest!” For those searching for higher meaning, it could be symbolic of Australia’s less cohesive defensive display a week after the superglue demonstration they gave Turkey.
The set play looked straight from the training ground, with Robinson, standing over the dead ball left of goal and not far from the byline, playing his left-footer short and square for a completely unmarked Sergino Dest at the top of the box. Dest takes one touch and then shoots straight at the target, and the ball takes a wicked deflection before Freeman pounces to head it home.
The offside flag goes up immediately, but a subsequent VAR check indicates all may not be as it seems. Balogun is offside as he dashes towards the second ball, but it wasn’t him who contested it – an onside Freeman got there first.
All clear, then? Not according to Popovic, who believed the offside Balogun had impeded Beach. The goalkeeper had first dived right and then scrambled back to his feet to dive left. As he does, he collides with Freeman, whose head has connected with the ball a split-second earlier. Balogun is close to the pair, but replays suggest he has stopped his run before making any contact. “I think today was, I wouldn’t say the best day for the referee,” Popovic said.
A glimmer of hope
Those arguing that Popovic should have started Irankunda, Metcalfe and Christian Volpato received a nice, neat exhibit A in the 62nd minute. Volpato, who replaces the injured Mat Leckie, is less than a minute into his second cap for Australia, and SBS commentator Luke Wilkshire has barely had time to wonder aloud: “Can he turn this game in the tide of the Socceroos?” before he very nearly does.
The Socceroos regain possession inside their third and Metcalfe makes an instinctive, first-time pass into the middle. Volpato, just inside Australia’s half, steals the limelight with a through ball as luxurious as a Lamborghini (with Australian finishing). The left-foot pearler sails through the midfield and into his side’s attacking third. And what do you know, but Irankunda has made a smart run around his defender and is on the ball and bursting into the box with ferocity. When he cannot get a shot away, he feeds back to the onrushing Volpato, who skews his goal attempt high.
Irankunda and Metcalfe – Australia’s scorers against Turkey – were brought on just after half-time, and this combination of three outstanding substitutes offers a glimpse into what might have been had they been a part of Popovic’s starting XI.
