Aussies frustrated in Honduras stalemate
AUSTRALIA edged closer to a place in the 2018 World Cup finals on Friday after grinding out a hard-fought 0-0 draw with Honduras in their AsiaCONCACAF playoff.
Socceroos striker Tomi Juric missed golden chances in each half as the Australians dominated a physical Honduras side without managing to find a precious away goal at the Estadio Olimpico Metropolitano.
Nevertheless Ange Postecoglou’s men will return to Australia for Wednesday’s second leg confident of reaching a fourth consecutive World Cup after a controlled display in hot, humid conditions.
“It was a great performance and the result doesn’t reflect that unfortunately,” Postec- oglou said after wards. “I thought we were good enough in our play to get one or two goals, but at the end of the day we wanted a strong performance and that’s what we got. We’ve got the home game now with our crowd and our conditions so we’re in good shape.”
Despite speculation that veteran striker Tim Cahill could feature after a recent ankle knock, the Australian record scorer remained on the bench throughout with Postecoglou unwilling to risk him on a poor playing surface.
Cahill’s cutting edge was sorely missed as Juric butchered a one-on-one chance in the first 45 minutes before squandering a free header in the second half.
Po s t e c o g l o u , h ow e v e r, refused to point the finger at Juric afterwards.
“Tomi put in an enormous shift for us,” the e Australia coach said. “He e worked really hard, held d the ball up when we needed eeded it. I’m sure he would ld have loved to have got t a goal but overall his s performance was good.” ood.”
Honduras coach oach
Jorge Luis Pinto, nto, meanwhile, was as disappointed with th t h e d r a w b u t insisted his team am still had a chance nce of progressing in the away leg.
“I’m not happy ppy b e c a u s e w e wanted to win tonight,” Pinto said. “You can win even when you’re away,” he added, before admitting Wednesday’s return leg “would would not be e easy.” Australia had t the better of a tense firstfirst-half, with Huddersfi Huddersfield’s Aaron Mooy ( pi ct ured, AFP) d dominating mid midfield and k e e pi ng t he So Socceroos on t h e o f f e n - s sive.
The visit o r s s u r - v i v e d a n early scare, scar however, when on only a lastditch Tr Trent Sainsbury tac tackle denied Carlos La Lanza.
Australia continued to create the better chances though, with Massimo Luongo forcing a low block from Honduras goalkeeper Donis Escober after a fine surging run.
The Australians also had strong shouts for a penalty in the 22nd minute when Escober bundled over Bailey Wright in the penalty area after a looping header flew over.
Italian referee Daniele Orsato consulted his linesman but after a brief delay ruled no foul had occurred.
Honduras’s only chance of note in a disappointing firsthalf display was a header from Lanza from Romell Quioto’s cross that flew wide of goalkeeper Maty Ryan. Otherwise it was all Australia.