SOCCEROOS OUT OF JAIL
Young star’s late heroics save the Aussies’ blushes
THE Socceroos needed a stoppage-time goal from Massimo Luongo to avoid defeat against an understrength South Korea at Suncorp Stadium last night.
Just when it seemed they were headed for a concerning defeat seven weeks out from their Asian Cup defence, the Socceroos salvaged a 1-1 draw.
VAR intervention was needed to confirm Luongo’s close-range equaliser, and much to the Koreans’ disgust, the goal stood.
The visitors were missing English Premier League pair Son Heung-min and Ki Sungyueng as well as five other first-choice players, but after weathering an early Socceroos onslaught, seemed set to win.
That was until Luongo’s late heroics, which was the culmination of a good period from Australia, helped by the injection of wingers Awer Mabil and debutant Martin Boyle in the second half.
The Koreans had taken the lead in the 22nd minute against the run of play after the Socceroos had huffed and puffed early without finding the back of the net.
It took just one long ball from defender Kim Min-jae to bring Australia undone.
Hwang Ui-jo was the recipient, with the Gamba Osaka forward getting the better of defender Trent Sainsbury before sliding the ball past goalkeeper Mat Ryan.
It was the type of clinical finish that Australia lacked too often in front of 32,922 fans who braved the wet weather to get a rare chance to watch the Socceroos in Queensland.
The Socceroos started with plenty of attacking intent. Celtic playmaker Tom Rogic had a chance in just the third minute but blazed his long-distance strike over the crossbar.
The Socceroos continued to attack, with fullback Josh Risdon’s fifth-minute deflected shot hitting the side netting.
It was then midfielder Aaron Mooy’s turn 11 minutes later to try his luck after being picked out by teammate Aziz Behich, but the Huddersfield midfielder failed to hit the target with his volleyed effort.
Hwang’s goal six minutes later was an early turning point, with the composed Koreans rarely threatening for the rest of the half.
The Socceroos had their chances in the second half through Rogic, Boyle and Luongo, but the goals that came so freely in their 4-0 away win over Kuwait last month were much harder to come by.
If not for the brilliance of Ryan in the 71st minute, the Koreans could have had a second goal. The Socceroos custodian did superbly to keep a goal-bound free-kick from substitute Ju Se-jong from finding the back of the net.
Both teams are back in action on Tuesday night, with the Socceroos meeting Lebanon and South Korea taking on Uzbekistan.