‘We can do better’: Socceroos claim ‘sloppy’ win despite worrying double injury blow
The Socceroos took another step towards the 2026 World Cup on Thursday night, overcoming Lebanon 2-0 in Parramatta, but what should have been a night of celebration was marred by a worrying pair of injuries to star left-footers Riley McGree and Jordy Bos.
An early goal to midfielder Keanu Baccus settled the nerves but failed to spark a scoring spree in front of 27,026 fans at Commbank Stadium, with Lebanon’s disciplined defence belying their lowly ranking of 115th in the world.
In the fifth minute, Baccus intercepted a pass from the Lebanon defence and found space on the right flank before curling the ball into the box. His cross-shot took Lebanon’s keeper by surprise as the ball struck the back post and bounced into the net.
The early goal opened the game up immediately, with Lebanon defying their underdog status with a willingness to go toe-to-toe against the world number 23 Australians.
Australia played with great energy and attacking intent but struggled to create scoring opportunities despite changing the formation to the traditional 4-4-2, deploying two central strikers in an attempt to break down a five-man defensive line from Lebanon.
As has been the case so often for the Socceroos of late, a set piece provided the breakthrough. Ten minutes into the second half, defender Kye Rowles doubled the lead from a corner – and like Baccus, it was also his maiden international goal.
A corner from Ajdin Hrustic, the playmaker making his first appearance since last June, bounced to Rowles who blasted a half-volley into the goal.
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Hrustic delivered an excellent performance off the bench, introduced as one of two first-half substitutions when Australia was struck down by a pair of injuries.
Veteran winger Riley McGree lasted just a quarter of an hour before a foot injury forced him from the field.
His replacement – 21-year-old rising star Jordy Bos – was also laid low when an awkward landing left him holding his left knee in clear pain.
Bos will be sent for scans tomorrow, while McGree was seen wearing a moonboot in the second half.
Coach Graham Arnold immediately revealed after the match they were both out of the next match against Lebanon on Tuesday night in Canberra.
The pair of injuries to the star left-wingers could prove a significant worry in an Australian squad already decimated by injuries.
Veterans Craig Goodwin (ill), Aziz Behich, Mathew Leckie, and Martin Boyle were all absent from the match – though that provided plenty of opportunities for youngsters to stake their claim in the team with the 2026 World Cup on the horizon.
Strikers Kusini Yengi and Adam Taggart toiled hard but failed to make their starting opportunities count, before veteran Mitch Duke and 24-year-old debutant John Iredale came off the bench in the second half.
Yet it was Lebanon’s substitutes that had a bigger impact, sparking a late resurgence from the underdogs against an Australia side that lost fluidity in the final 15 minutes.
The error-prone Socceroos were nearly punished for a cheap turnover ten minutes from time when substitute Daniel Kuri lashed a shot into the post, while Australia struggled to create any strong chances in the closing stages.
Kuri had another chance in the final seconds when he headed narrowly wide with the last touch of the game.
Despite a sluggish second half, the Socceroos nevertheless maintained their perfect start to World Cup qualifying, with three wins from as many games meaning they need just one more win (from three matches) to book their place in the next stage on the road to 2026.
They will hope to do so in Canberra on Tuesday night against the same opponent – though Keanu Baccus will be absent after picking up a yellow card.
Midfielder Connor Metcalfe told Channel 10: “Obviously the most important thing is a win and a clean sheet, but I think we can do a lot better.
“Too sloppy, too many easy mistakes. But again, very happy with the win.”
“It wasn’t our prettiest performance,” Rowles said.
“We hold ourselves to high standards and we know we can do better,” he added.
Arnold, similarly, added: “Look, for the one session we had, I’ve got to be very proud of the boys.”
“Obviously we can do better... the last 10-15 minutes we got a bit sloppy,” he added. “But overall, I know we can do much better.”
CONFIRMED STARTING XI (4-4-2, L-R)
Mathew Ryan (GK, C)
Kye Rowles, Harry Souttar, Cameron Burgess, Nathaniel Atkinson,
Riley McGree, Jackson Irvine, Keanu Baccus, Connor Metcalfe,
Adam Taggart, Kusini Yengi.
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TEAM NEWS
The Socceroos have been struck down by a wave of injuries, with three forced changes to the starting team followed by a fourth for form reasons.
Winger Martin Boyle is absent after recently suffering a sickening head knock for his club Hibernian, while Marco Tilio, Aziz Behich, and Awer Mabil are all injured.
Aiden O’Neill is suspended after being sent off in the Asian Cup quarter-final, a 2-1 extra time loss to South Korea – but an ankle injury would have ruled him out regardless.
And right-back Lewis Miller was called up to the squad only to suffer a hamstring injury while playing in Scotland that has now ruled him out.
Meanwhile, veteran winger Craig Goodwin (of English second-tier team Middlesbrough) came down sick while flying home and did not link up with the squad as he recovers. He will not play tonight but the Socceroos are hopeful their regular set-piece taker will return for Tuesday’s match.
Fans will have to wait for the substitions to see a long-awaited return for ‘X-Factor’ playmaker Ajdin Hrustic, who was stuck in club limbo for nearly all of 2023 before securing a move to the Netherlands where much-needed match minutes earned him a recall to the national team.
He played just one of the Socceroos’ 14 matches since the start of 2023.
Arnold said: “I think it’s great to see [Hrustic] back playing. I have been watching him play in Holland, but yesterday was probably the first time I’ve seen him live since, doing the training session, to see the 11 v 11. But it’s great to have him back, he brings that X factor for us that can change games and that’s important.”
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Perth Glory striker Adam Taggart’s rich vein of scoring form earned him a first start since September 2022, alongside in-form Portsmouth forward Kusini Yengi.
Yengi only joined Portsmouth in July last year – for around 80 thousand pounds from the Western Sydney Wanderers – but his maiden campaign has already been impressive, with 11 goals and two assists in 24 games across all competitions.
What makes those statistics more impressive is that he has started just five of 19 league appearances – but in his last two games he has scored a combined three goals.
Yengi debuted for Australia in November last year and has made three more appearances since then – including a first start at the Asian Cup where he earned a penalty with a mazy dribble into the area.
He replaces Duke in one of four changes from the Socceroos’ last match - with the ruled-out trio of Behich, Boyle, and Goodwin forcing Arnold’s hand.
Kye Rowles will deputise at left-back for the injured Aziz Behich, with young gun Jordan Bos having mostly been used as a winger under Arnold instead of his natural left-back role.
But 21-year-old starlet Bos was left out of the starting line-up completely, with Riley McGree set to start at winger.
The decision to omit Bos left pundits puzzled, with Adam Brosque saying on Channel 10: “There must be a reason.”
Coach Graham Arnold explained the snub, saying Bos was a late arrival to the team camp.
Bos: “I think you saw Kye do a job for us against Mexico and against England (in friendlies last year). One thing they do look for is hit us on the counter attack.
“Jordy didn’t arrive until 2am Wednesday morning. He basically did a session Wednesday evening – but he gives us that option off the bench.”
Meanwhile 21-year-old midfielder Patrick Yazbek – a Lebanese-Australian – will be hoping to make an emotional debut, while fellow midfielder Josh Nisbet, striker John Iredale, and goalkeeper Thomas Glover are also potential debutants this series.
Lebanon, meanwhile, lined up with five at the back.
FULL SOCCEROOS SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Maty Ryan (captain), Thomas Glover, Joe Gauci
Defenders: Harry Souttar, Kye Rowles, Cameron Burgess, Nathaniel Atkinson, Jordan Bos, Thomas Deng, Gethin Jones,
Midfielders: Jackson Irvine, Keanu Baccus, Ajdin Hrustic, Craig Goodwin, Connor Metcalfe, Riley McGree, Patrick Yazbek, Josh Nisbet
Forwards: Mitchell Duke, Adam Taggart, Kusini Yengi, John Iredale, Bruno Fornaroli, Brandon Borrello, Sam Silvera