Ange knows Roos will fire
Coach puts faith in second round playoff as Aussies face spirited a Syria at home
SOCCEROOS coach Ange Postecoglou remained steadfast in his belief that his players would complete the first of their World Cup playoff missions in Tuesday’s return leg against a spirited Syria.
Australia will relish a return to home soil after neutral Malaysian territory proved hostile, with a small but partisan crowd and a favourable late call helping Asia’s comeback kings secure a dramatic late 1-1 draw.
Robbie Kruse put the Socceroos ahead on 40 minutes, glancing in a fine dribble and cross from Mathew Leckie after withstanding a testy period.
Both sides were wasteful before the brilliant Mat Ryan was finally beaten from the spot after referee Alireza Faghani blew for a penalty when Omar Al Somah, who’d just returned from a five-year exile, crumbled under a legal Leckie challenge.
“We didn’t get the ideal result, but it was still a good result going back home,’’ Postecoglou said.
“You’re always disappointed, particularly when you concede like we did, they’re a bit flat. But they also worked awfully hard.’’
The more defensive-minded Josh Risdon deployed as right wing-back and he combined well with Leckie, who was shifted into a central attacking role.
THEY (SYRIA) HAVE GOT TO SCORE A GOAL AND GOT TO OPEN UP A LITTLE BIT AT SOME POINT AND WE’LL MAKE SURE WE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT ANGE POSTECOGLOU
Greater balance meant greater control as they withstood Syria’s physical pressure and ad hoc but dangerous waves of attacks.
Aaron Mooy dictated the tempo, protected by captain Mark Milligan, while the back three took more risks in carrying the ball, with Matt Jurman composed on debut.
The Socceroos tired in the hot, humid Melaka conditions, while Syria threw everything at them, but Postecoglou was confident that would change at ANZ Stadium.
“They (Syria) have got to score a goal and got to open up a little bit at some point and we’ll make sure we take advantage of that,’’ he said.
“We’ve got some fresh legs. We’ve got (Tom) Rogic, Jimmy Troisi, Mass Luongo, Jackson (Irvine), (Brad Smith), (Craig) Goodwin.
“Even Nikita (Rukavytsya) and Rogic just came on for a bit tonight.
“They can really put some energy into the game.
“We want to play a really high tempo, which we can at home, which we always do. Really go at them and test them.’’