Sydney venue a winner for Caltex Socceroos

Ahead of Australia's huge FIFA World Cup qualifier at Allianz Stadium this March, we check on the form of the Caltex Socceroos at the Moore Park venue.

Australia will take an excellent record at the venue into the crucial clash, undefeated in the last five games their going back almost a decade.

In total, they've scored eight goals in their last five games at the venue, conceding just one. 

Reports: Caltex Socceroo duo sign for Chinese club

Ahead of the highly-anticipated clash on March 28, we look back at the last five games at the home of Sydney FC, starting with a big win last year. 

Caltex Socceroos 5-1 Jordan

When? March 2016

Summary: First-half blitz lays platform for a big World Cup qualifier win

Top spot and automatic progression to the next stage of qualifying for Russia 2018 was on the line, with Harry Redknapp in charge of the visitors. 

But the wily Englishman was powerless to halt a rampant Australian side, that put the result to bed before the break. 

Caltex Socceroos Aaron Mooy and Brad Smith celebrate a goal scored against Jordan in Sydney.

A first-half brace from Tim Cahill – his 46th and 47th goals in the green and gold - came either side of an Aaron Mooy strike to make it 3-0 at the break, with winger Robbie Kruse providing all the assists. 

There was no let-up in the second half as Tom Rogic and Massimo Luongo added further goals before Jordan scored a late consolation. 

Not even a horror tackle by Jordan’s Yousef Al-Rawashdeh on Kruse – which forced him off injured with no red card given – could dampen the mood after a big win for the hosts in front of almost 25,000 fans

Caltex Socceroos 1-0 Costa Rica

When: November 2013

Summary: Ange’s winning start in his first game in charge

Less than a month after his appointment, Ange Postecoglou was at the helm for the first time in a crucial game for the new boss leading into the 2014 World Cup. 

The likes of Mat Ryan, Mathew Leckie, Rhys Williams, Jason Davidson and Ivan Franjic all started as Postecoglou began his mandated regeneration of the squad. 

Tim Cahill.

And it was a bright start to the new era, with the Caltex Socceroos on the front-foot throughout. But it took a familiar face to decide the outcome, with Tim Cahill coming off the bench to plant home a trademark header from a corner, helped by a wicked deflection.

Caltex Socceroos 1-0 Paraguay

When: October 2010

Summary: Carney cracker seals homecoming win

This was Australia’s first match back at home after the 2010 World Cup, with new boss Holger Osieck picking an impressive line-up that included Schwarzer, Cahill, Kewell, Culina, Wilkshire and Kennedy. 

After a scrappy first-half, Carney brought the match to life with a superb goal not long after the break to beat the excellent keeper Diego Berreto. 

Good start crucial: Carney

Kennedy won an aerial duel with his defender, with the ball dropping to Carney just outside the box and the Blackpool defender crunched a powerful low drive inside the near post. 

It proved enough to give Osieck a debut win at home in front of more than 25,000 fans.

Caltex Socceroos 0-0 Netherlands

When: October 2009 

Summary: Stalemate in the rain with star-studded Oranje

Despite it being a friendly match, Bert van Marwijk [currently coach of Saudi Arabia, who meet the Socceroos this June] brought an impressive Dutch side Down Under, including the likes of Wesley Sneijder, Rafael van der Vaart, Dirk Kuyt, Klass Jan Huntelaar, while future Melbourne Heart marquee Orlando Engelaar came off the bench. 

Harry Kewell.

On a rainy night, both sides struggled to produce their best football, with chances at a premium for the crowd of 40,537. Brett Holman almost won it for the Aussies late on when he had a good sight of goal, only to blast his effort over the bar. But it was a good result and performance for Australia, who went on to win a crucial World Cup qualifier against Oman in Melbourne a few days later.

Caltex Socceroos 1-0 Ghana 

When? May 2008: 

Summary: Mixed night for Mile

This clash coincided with the FIFA congress assembling in Sydney. And it will be remembered for a unique situation as much as the overall result. A technical difficulty meant the Ghanaian anthem wasn’t played before the match, instead it was played when the teams came out for the second half.

Mile Sterjovski: A solid contributor for the Socceroos over many seasons, Sterjovski wore the Green and Gold 38 times, scoring six goals.

It certainly didn’t help the visitors, who conceded inside two minutes after the break through a goal to Mile Sterjovski, who dispossessed defender John Mensah and then drilled in a low shot from the edge of the box. Unfortunately for Caltex Socceroos attacker Sterjovski, he was sent off just three minutes from the end for a second bookable offence.