Match Recap
27,000 fans filled in to CommBank Stadium Thursday night to watch their Socceroos take on Lebanon in World Cup qualifying.
Having won their opening two matches, the Socceroos sat atop the group while Lebanon was third with two ties to their name.
As such, a decisive victory from the home side was expected, and delivered.
In just the fifth minute, Australia grabbed the lead on a whacky play. Keanu Baccus forced a turnover in the attacking third and carried the ball to the right side of the penalty area.
He then fired what seemed to be an attempted cross through the box which somehow turned into a curler right into the far corner of the net.
With the early goal, the Socceroos forced Lebanon to change strategies from their desired defensive shell into a more open, flowing game.
Baccus again almost found the back of the net just four minutes later as an Aussie shot was blocked and fell to him at the edge of the box. He blasted a shot which narrowly missed the target.
Lebanon began to get forward at points after that initial onslaught and forced a corner after some good attacking down the wing, but the delivery was handled calmly by the Aussies.
Lebanon’s short burst of attacks however were not nearly enough to force Australia back as the Socceroos kept coming, wave after wave.
They consistently were able to get the ball into the Lebanese penalty area but were lacking the final touch for the rest of the first half as they went to the locker room up 1-0.
Similar to the beginning of the game, Australia found a quick goal in the second half. The Socceroos came out ferociously in the second half and were all over the Lebanese defense.
They were able to capitalize in the 54th minute as off a corner the ball ping-ponged off a number of players and fell to the foot of Kye Rowles who knocked it off the post and in.
The game then really opened up with Lebanon committing men forward to try and mount a comeback.
It was a scrappy, back and forth affair as neither team was excelling at holding the ball for sustained periods of time.
The Socceroos however kept their composure on the back end and by the game’s end, had kept a clean sheet.
Injury Trouble for the Socceroos
As was expected, the Socceroos took care of business. Unfortunately, just as big a storyline is the injuries they sustained.
It was first Riley McGree, who was forced to sub out in the 17th minute thanks to a foot injury.
His replacement, Jordan Bos, lasted only until the 40th minute when he had to leave the pitch thanks to a knee injury.
Neither injury has been reported to be catastrophic, however neither are expected to play in their next game against Lebanon on Tuesday.
The injuries forced centre-back Kye Rowles to play left-back. In an unfamiliar position, Rowles was spectacular, keeping Lebanese attackers to the outside and potting his first senior international goal.
He is expected to start at left-back again on Tuesday and his contributions will be pivotal.
Socceroos Comfortably atop Group I
With the victory, Australia is now comfortably in first place in their group.
The Socceroos are 3-0 giving them nine points while second placed Palestine has just four points.
Barring a massive collapse, Australia is poised to advance to the final round of World Cup qualifying.
