Socceroos still top after Taggart goal

ADAM Taggart has scored the only goal as Australia hung on for its first away win over Jordan in the 2022 World Cup qualifier in Amman.

Taggart’s 13th-minute chipped finish at the King Abdullah II Stadium yesterday allowed Australia to stay top of Group B with 12 points. “It is important to end the year on a high and it’s a tough place to come and history has shown how difficult it is for any country to come here,” Taggart said.

“So we’re all really happy with the result and I think we’ve still got a lot to go, there’s still a lot to build on.”

Manager Graham Arnold was proud that his side was able to resist an attempted second-half comeback to record Australia’s first victory over Jordan in the Middle East.

“The Socceroos have never won here and we’re the first to do it,” Arnold said.

Goalkeeper Mathew Ryan’s late efforts were crucial after Jordan started aggressively, particularly down the left where playmaker Jackson Irvine was deployed to make way for the returning Tom Rogic in the middle. But Australia was the first to strike with Irvine setting up Taggart with a brilliant through ball.

The Hull City man threaded a perfectly weighted pass between the opposing centre backs and the Suwon Bluewings forward neatly finished past Jordanian goalkeeper Amer Shafi.

Irvine fluffed a glorious chance to double the lead off Aaron Mooy’s corner in the 29th minute when the ball rebounded into his feet just outside the six-yard box only for him to smash it over.