Rogic’s ripper seals KO spot
A SUBLIME finish by Tom Rogic secured Australia a 3-2 win over Syria yesterday and progression to the Asian Cup knockout stages.
Rogic swept home from outside the box in the 93rd minute to cap a man-of-thematch display in a crazy group stage clash in the Khalifa Bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain.
Australia had twice hit the lead through young guns Awer Mabil and Chris Ikonomidis, before Syrian stars Omar Kharbin and Omar Al-Soma hit back for the Qasioun Eagles.
Mabil’s first-half strike — his fourth in seven international appearances — gave Australia the lead before Kharbin equalised two minutes later. Ikonomidis’ first competitive goal for his country early in the second half had Syrian players pleading with Mexican referee Cesar Ramos that the ball hadn’t crossed the line.
Syria and their boisterous fans were again up in arms minutes later when Socceroos’ captain Mark Milligan appeared to handle inside the box but Ramos turned down their penalty appeals.
Syria did get a penalty in the 80th minute however when Al-Soma appeared to trip over a teammate inside Australia’s box.
The striker — who scored both his country’s goals in a World Cup playoff between the two nations in 2017 — promptly swept home the spot kick. Syria then poured forward sensing a win that would have secured its progression to the knockout stages.
But in the end it was Rogic’s right foot that ended Syria's tournament.
“I just thought it was a helter-skelter game at times because Syria played very direct and very long,” coach Graham Arnold said.
“It’s all about the second ball, and it’s all about the challenges, and it’s all about playing against the way we want to play because the ball’s in the air all the time and we want it on the ground. “It was a good performance in that respect.”
Australia will next face either Uzbekistan or Japan in the round of 16 with those two to play off for top spot in Group F in Al Ain early tomorrow morning.
Syria goes home without a win while Palestine’s 0-0 with group winners Jordan means it is still a chance to progress as one of the four best thirdplaced teams despite not scoring a goal so far in the tournament.
Australia’s next match will be on Monday, January 21 giving Arnold’s injury-hit squad valuable time to recover whoever they play.
Andrew Nabbout missed the match after re-injuring his groin in training on Monday while Trent Sainsbury (suspended), Mathew Leckie (hamstring) and Josh Risdon (groin) were also unavailable.
“We’ve got five days between now and the next game and I expect probably three of those players back out of the four,” Arnold said.
“I know (Japanese coach Hajime) Moriyasu very well. I played with him at Sanfrecce and I know he’s a winner.
“Japan obviously have got a tough game against Uzbekistan. We’ll watch the game and prepare ourselves for whoever we have to play.” MACLAREN IS NOW AUSTRALIA’S MAIN GOALSCORER Andrew Nabbout’s recurrence of a groin injury means he’s in doubt to play any part in Australia’s Asian Cup defence. His woes mean Jamie Maclaren, who was unlucky not to score against Syria, is now the Socceroos’ key attacking weapon. With the departure of record goalscorer Tim Cahill, are we seeing another emerge in the form of South Sudanese refugee Awer Mabil. The 23year-old scored a left- footed beauty to opening the scoring and now has four goals in seven appearances for his country. He’s exciting, dynamic and a real talent. Australia have a gem of a player there. There’s no doubt Tom Rogic (pictured) is an Australian football superstar but there’s always been a feeling he saves his best performances for Scottish Premiership club Celtic. He was huge against Syria however, often playing clever balls in behind the Syrian defence for Maclaren, Mabil and Ikonomidis to run on to. His 93rd-minute winner was a great strike in the circumstances and Graham Arnold will be hoping his former Central Coast Mariners prodigy is ready to shine in the tournament. MENTAL RESILIENCE GOT ROOS THROUGH The controversial penalty which allowed Syria to level the match 2-2 sparked an intense final 10 minutes. As the Syrians poured forward in search of a winner, their fans turned the Khalifa Bin Zayed Stadium into a cauldron. Graham Arnold’s men didn’t buckle and were always a threat on the counter. Syria was Australia’s toughest hurdle so far, fired up by offfield dramas and with a team that was better than their first two performances suggested. It doesn’t get easier, however, with either an impressive Uzbekistan under the tutelage of veteran coach Hector Cuper or Asian nemesis Japan next up at the same venue.