Wasteful Socceroos urged to take their chances
Winger Awer Mabil wants the Socceroos to develop a more clinical edge in front of goal, starting with Tuesday night’s World Cup qualifier in Taiwan.
Australia thrashed Group B minnows Nepal 5-0 in Canberra on Thursday but believe they could, and should, have scored many more times.
With the Nepalese sitting back, Graham Arnold’s men dominated possession and territory but regularly had their shots blocked or go wide.
Despite Jamie Maclaren becoming the first Socceroo to notch a hat-trick since Mile Jedinak in 2017 against Honduras, there was a sense of frustration among the Aussies.
Mabil, 24, who came on as a second-half substitute, said more difficult opponents on the road to Qatar would not be as generous as world No.161 Nepal.
“Against stronger teams you’ll probably only get one or two chances,” Mabil said. “We need to take them ... you could see Jamie (on Thursday) was clinical with his chances – we just have to continue that.”
Since taking over as national coach after last year’s World Cup in Russia, Arnold has watched his team score three or more goals in six matches.
Their inability to break down organised defences, however, proved costly in January’s Asian Cup, where they needed penalties to beat Uzbekistan before losing 1-0 to the UAE in a quarter-final.
On Thursday night the Socceroos got a boost when their main rival in the qualifying group, Jordan, drew 0-0 against Kuwait. It means Australia are top of the group, two points ahead of Kuwait but having played a game less.
Arnold has hinted he will make alterations to the squad to face bottom-placed Taiwan.
— Ed Jackson and Eamonn Tiernan