Australia delivered a commanding performance with a 5-1 victory over Indonesia at the Sydney Football Stadium, significantly enhancing their chances in the race for a World Cup spot. The win propelled Tony Popovic's men to 10 points in Asian Group C, moving them four points clear of Indonesia with three matches left to play. This triumph is crucial for the Socceroos, who aim to secure automatic qualification for the 48-team tournament in North America next year by finishing second in their group.
The match saw Australia awarded a penalty following a VAR intervention, which Martin Boyle expertly converted, setting the tone for the rest of the game. Jackson Irvine further solidified the team's dominance with a brace, while Lewis Miller added to Australia's tally. Despite Indonesia's Ole Romeny pulling one back late in the game, Australia's lead remained unchallenged.
"The result today was very important and the fact that we did it with five goals, really pleased," said Jackson Irvine, who was named man-of-the-match.
The game was particularly significant for the Australians, as they played without several key players due to injuries, including Leicester defender Harry Souttar and Middlesbrough midfielder Riley McGree. Nevertheless, they managed to deliver an impressive performance that keeps their World Cup dreams alive.
In addition to the victory's immediate impact on their standings, the win also serves as a morale booster for the team. Irvine emphasized the significance of building momentum in this crucial phase of the qualifiers.
"But momentum is an important thing in sport, and we’ve kick-started that winning momentum now in an important [FIFA] window, and it’s important we learn and get better," noted Irvine.
Despite the dominant scoreline, some team members remained grounded in their assessment of the performance.
"I think the scoreline flatters us a little bit, to be honest," remarked Mat Ryan.
Australia's path to the World Cup is still challenging, with Japan poised to secure their place if they continue to win. However, with this victory, the Socceroos have positioned themselves well for the remaining matches in their group.
