Socceroos secure Soccer Ashes with comfortable New Zealand win

Tim Gibson \\ Photo Credit: Aleksandar Jason/Socceroos 1697574754,1698805078

The Subway Socceroos claimed the Soccer Ashes with a 2-0 win over New Zealand on Wednesday morning at Gtech Community Stadium.

Mitchell Duke’s shot deflected off Harry Souttar for a quick opener before Jackson Irvine scored off the bench to seal the result.

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New Zealand had a promising start to the match, putting Australia under pressure, eager to earn an opening goal.

Australia weathered this early storm and took the lead 13 minutes in. A left-sided delivery to the back post was headed back across goal by Alessandro Circati, finding Duke whose effort skimmed off Souttar and hit the net.

The Socceroos nearly doubled their lead 12 minutes later when Jordan Bos lined up a curler from the left edge of the box that New Zealand goalkeeper Michael Woud palmed away.

New Zealand had a chance half an hour in when Bill Tuiloma’s cross from the right found Chris Wood centrally - the forward forcing Mathew Ryan into some sharp glove work.

Tweet: https://twitter.com/Socceroos/status/1714387392273187164

Bos continued to provide a threat in forward areas for Australia down the left and found Martin Boyle 37 minutes in, who turned it home but was flagged offside.

Australia went into halftime with a narrow lead over their opponents and put the pressure on soon after the restart.

Winger Bos had another shot just after halftime, but this one flew well wide of the right post.

The Aussies came forward again in the 53rd minute, with Massimo Luongo slipping Connor Metcalfe into the box, whose effort was repelled by Woud.

Chances kept coming for Australia; just two minutes later, Boyle raced in behind one-on-one with Woud, however, the goalkeeper stayed big to prevent the Socceroos’ second.

The side were almost left to rue those missed chances 64 minutes in when Tuiloma’s free-kick sailed narrowly over the bar for the All Whites.

Craig Goodwin looked to make an instant impact a couple of minutes later when his deflected shot fell Ryan Strain - the fullback scuffing it wide from inside the box.

Australia finally scored their second goal in the 76th minute when Boyle’s left-sided corner swung to the back post for Irvine, who nodded past Woud.

They should have scored three with five minutes to play. Strain slid the ball across from the right of the box to Brandon Borrello at the far post, but the attacker inexplicably clipped the left post from point-blank range.

Graham Arnold’s men saw out what remained to take out the Soccer Ashes in London.

Tweet: https://twitter.com/Socceroos/status/1714393592155050060

Subway Socceroos 2 (Harry Souttar 13’, Jackson Irvine 76’)
New Zealand 0
Date: Wednesday 18 October 2023
Venue: Gtech Community Stadium

Subway Socceroos: 1. Mathew Ryan (GK) (C), 17. Lewis Miller (Ryan Strain 46’), 19. Harry Souttar, 23. Alessandro Circati, 5. Jordan Bos (10. Craig Goodwin 66’), 6. Martin Boyle (7. Sam Silvera 82’), 20. Keanu Baccus, 21. Massimo Lungo (22. Jackson Irvine 66’), 16. Aziz Behich, 8. Connor Metcalfe (14. Aiden O’Neill 82’), 15. Mitchell Duke (9. Brandon Borrello 66’)

Substitutes Not Used: 2. Milos Degenek, 3. Cameron Burgess, 4. Kye Rowles, 11. Awer Mabil, 12. Andrew Redmayne (GK), 18. Tom Glover (GK), 25. Patrick Yazbek, 26. Mohamed Toure

Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil

New Zealand: 22. Michael Woud (GK), 6. Bill Tuiloma (2. Niko Kirwan 73’), 5. Michael Boxall (18. Tyler Bindon 81’), 4. Nando Pijnaker, 13. Liberato Cacace, 20. Callum McCowatt, 8. Marko Stamenic, 7. Matthew Garbett, 16. Elijah Just (19. Ben Waine 73’), 9. Chris Wood (C) (21. Max Mata 81’), 17. Alex Greive (14. Joseph Champness 67’)

Substitutes Not Used: 1. Max Crocombe (GK), 3. Dalton Wilkins, 12. Nikola Tzanev (GK), 15. Tommy Smith

Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil