Live: Socceroos vs Honduras

The Socceroos are going to the World Cup after defeating Honduras 3-1 on Wednesday night

11pm

Aussies rank outsiders booking World Cup spot

Trade that VB for vodka, we’re off to Russia.

Australia booked its place at the 2018 World Cup with a convincing 3-1 win over Honduras in front of nearly 80,000 grateful fans at Sydney’s ANZ Stadium.

It was the Mile Jedinak show as the inspirational captain continued his remarkable return following a five-month injury layoff. Immense in the first leg in San Pedro Sula on the weekend, he was the main man when it mattered most.

The 33-year-old scored a hat-trick in a famous victory that was savoured by football fans across the country.

“It’s a bit hard to describe, it’s unreal ... we’re very grateful we’re going to another World Cup,” Jedinak said. “It’s extra special. It was our duty to the nation as football players to get this job done.”

Mark Milligan was full of praise for his resilient teammates. “Extremely special. This group’s gone through a lot from the way we want to play to not qualifying automatically,” he said. “(There was) A lot of talk leading into this and make no mistake, this group deserves everything they get.”

Despite the elation, the bookmakers aren’t given the Socceroos much hope of doing any damage in Russia. The TAB has Ange Postecoglou’s side a $201 outsider to win the tournament — and a short-priced $1.25 to be eliminated in the group stage.

Australia is $3.40 to win a match and $3 to score more than two goals.

Jedinak opened his account with a deflected free kick early in the second half, then followed that up with two penalties as the visitors’ poor discipline killed off its own World Cup hopes.

Bryan Acosta’s complaints fell on deaf ears when the referee pinged him for handball inside the area after 72 minutes. Jedinak did the rest, burying the ball in the bottom left corner to make it 2-0 and put one foot on the plane to Russia.

While the lead gave supporters reason to be nervy given the disaster that unfolded against Iran 20 years ago when the Socceroos were ahead by the same margin only to see a heartbreaking comeback crush their World Cup dream, there was to be no repeat of that horror show.

When Robbie Kruse was crudely chopped down from behind metres out from goal with five minues left, Jedinak stepped up once again, this time driving the ball down the middle from the spot to send the crowd wild.

A consolation goal from Honduras seconds before fulltime did nothing to dampen Australia’s mood as players celebrated their momentous achievement.

Jedinak couldn’t have put in a better captains performance over the 2 legs. After coming back from injury - incredible. Proper skipper — Gavin Rae (@raeso77) November 15, 2017

Congratulations @Socceroos - a great win 3-1 and now on the road to Moscow and more victories! #GoSoccerooos — Malcolm Turnbull (@TurnbullMalcolm) November 15, 2017

Well done to the @Socceroos awesome stuff. How goods this 👍👍👍 — David Warner (@davidwarner31) November 15, 2017

Australia did little to ease the nerves of fans after an indifferent first half that saw both sides head to the sheds at 0-0.

As they’ve done so often in recent matches, the Socceroos dominated in every aspect except the one that matters most — the scoreboard. The hosts enjoyed 72 per cent of the possession but managed just four shots on goal to one inside the opening 45 minutes.

Ange Postecoglou’s men were clunky in attack, a point noted by Australian great Mark Bosnich at halftime.

“The pendulum swung back to Honduras’ favour in that first half. We were too slow,” Bosnich said. “If we continue at this tempo and this pace the pendulum will swing completely.

“We’ve got to be careful here.”

Tim Cahill created the best chance of the game when he miraculously squeezed a pass out despite the close attention of two Honduras defenders at the corner flag. Aziz Behich latched onto the ball and released for Tom Rogic in the box, but the midfielder’s first-time strike lacked the power to trouble goalkeeper Donis Escober.

9.05pm

Second half: Jedinak to the rescue

Australia started the second half on the front foot, penetrating the box twice in the first three minutes of the stanza. Some desperate work by Tim Cahill won the Aussies a corner and Aaron Mooy had three opportunities to set his teammates up after his first two deliveries were cleared, but he was off target.

Tom Rogic went on a weaving run from halfway, maintaining possession until he was crudely brought down just outside the area after 52 minutes. The foul proved costly for Honduras when Mile Jedinak — who took the free kick ahead of Mooy — slotted the ball in the back of the net with a bit of help.

His strike hit Henry Figueroa and deflected past goalkeeper Donis Escober to give the Socceroos a 1-0 lead.

Tim Cahill almost doubled the advantage when he leapt high to meet a cross from the left, getting his head to the ball to loop it over Escober only to see it hit the crossbar.

Aziz Behich went off on a stretcher after an hour when he came off worse for wear following an aerial challenge.

Honduras didn’t need an invitation to step on the accelerator, pushing forward with more urgency knowing it needed a goal to save its World Cup campaign. But that created more space for the Aussies when they had the ball and they started to find more holes in the visitors’ defence.

Tomi Juric replaced Cahill after 65 minutes, the veteran striker leaving the pitch to a hero’s reception from the grateful Sydney crowd. The move signalled Ange Postecoglou’s intent not to just sit back and defend the lead, sending Juric up front as a like-for-like replacement after Cahill spent his time in action as the lone striker.

The Socceroos were given the perfect opportunity to extend their lead when the referee awarded the home side a penalty following Bryan Acosta’s handball. He complained but there was no point, replays showing he clearly handled the ball inside the box.

“Penalty controversy,” Simon Hill said in commentary after the referee took his time blowing the whistle, waiting a couple of seconds before pointing to the spot.

Mile Jedinak stepped up to the spot and buried the ball in the bottom left corner.

Jedinak couldn’t have put in a better captains performance over the 2 legs. After coming back from injury - incredible. Proper skipper — Gavin Rae (@raeso77) November 15, 2017

The men in gold continued to push for a third, but a Bailey Wright turnover in his team’s half saw Alberth Elis take possession before he was hacked from behind by Mathew Leckie. The resulting free kick was blazed over the crossbar.

A lovely ball over the top put Robbie Kruse one-on-one with the keeper but a desperate challenge from behind saw him tumble to the turf and left the referee with no option but to blow another penalty. Once again it was Jedinak from the spot and he slotted his spot kick straight down the middle to rack up a hat-trick and send Australia to the World Cup.

Honduras scored a consolation goal seconds from time after a scramble in the box but it did little to dampen Australia’s mood.

8pm

First half: Leckie must lift

Both sides traded free kicks inside the opening two minutes. First Mathew Leckie was pinged for a late challenge on Maynor Figueroa outside the box then Honduran striker Romell Quioto controlled the ball with his hand.

The referee dished out the first yellow card of the match when he didn’t appreciate Matt Jurman’s ugly challenge.

Honduras has started much better than it did in the first leg on Saturday, actually managing to string some passes together at the back. But the Socceroos looked the classier outfit in the opening stages, the ball remaining in the visitors’ half for the most part.

An early confrontation between left wing-back Aziz Behich and Alberth Elis after the Aussie believed his opponent took a dive provided an early spark before Tom Rogic tried to surged through the middle of the Honduran defence and into the area only for a heavy touch and some close attention from the men in blue and white to end his run.

Tim Cahill hugged Trent Sainsbury, using him as a bodyguard as he awaited Aaron Mooy’s delivery from a free kick on the left side after 13 minutes, but he took an air swing before goalkeeper Donis Escober pulled off a blinder to keep the ball out of the net. Escober was unsighted as the ball swung in and Cahill’s miss would have made life more difficult, but he was up to the task.

Honduran defender Johnny Palacios was lucky to escape further sanction when he brought Rogic down with a cynical foul that prevented the Aussie from scooting clear.

An Australian attacking raid after 17 minutes was incorrectly cut short when Rogic released Behich down the left. The referee’s assistant raised his flag for offside but replays showed Behich was clearly in a position to keep playing.

Figueroa went into the book not long after for chopping Cahill from behind but the home side was unable to take advantage of yet another free kick. The Honduras defence scrambled well to shut Mooy down when he took too long to pull the trigger inside the box after picking up the scraps.

Elis went down after copping an accidental forearm from Mile Jedinak when the pair went up for a header but Australia dealt well with a sharp one-two from Honduras on the edge of the box from the resulting free kick. Honduras coach Luis Pinto blew up on the sideline when he believed Jedinak fouled Elis again as the two collided once more, preventing Elis from latching onto the return pass of his give-and-go.

Honduras coach going off like a cut snake. Settle down mate. 😂#AUSvHON #GoSocceroos pic.twitter.com/zY4hvmhNuJ — Tim Hipsley (@TimHipsley) November 15, 2017

Trent Sainsbury’s sloppy pass out of defence after half-an-hour gifted Honduras possession on the halfway line, but the visitors couldn’t capitalise. Some neat play released Leckie down the right wing and he won his team a corner, but there was to be no Cahill miracle from Mooy’s set piece.

Emilio Izaguirre went down with a sore left foot after a scramble in the box but the referee wasn’t going to let him waste any time, sending him hobbling off the field so play could continue.

Australia has enjoyed the majority of possession and territory but hasn’t been slick in the final third, too often looking clunky as it searched for an opener. Leckie hasn’t asserted himself on the contest on the right wing, not doing enough in attack after reclaiming his starting spot from Josh Risdon.

In contrast, Behich on the left has been at the centre of much of the Socceroos’ creative play, often finding himself in space out wide.

“I’d like to see Leckie more involved further forward,” former Socceroo Robbie Slater said.

Matthew Leckie needs to get in the game. No width at all on the right. — Daniel Garb (@DanielGarb) November 15, 2017

.@Socceroos need Leckie & Rogic to start influencing nervy spell this #AUSvHON — David Basheer (@Bashola66) November 15, 2017

Some Cahill magic almost sent ANZ Stadium into a frenzy 10 minutes before the break. Somehow he managed to get a ball away despite the close attention of two Honduras players near the left corner flag, allowing Behich to receive the ball in space. He squared a pass up for Rogic, but Escober saved his first-time strike.

BIG CHANCE!



Cahill with a brilliant nutmeg but Rogic can't make the most of the opportunity#AUSvHON #GoSocceroos live: https://t.co/kxm1OqwTC4 pic.twitter.com/yhNghLhvas — FOX SPORTS Football (@FOXFootballLive) November 15, 2017

Izaguirre was stretchered off after 40 minutes, replaced by Henry Figueroa, as the Aussies struggled to produce their best football.

“The team’s slightly out of gear, the touch (has) not been great,” Andy Harper said in commentary.

Utterly, utterly poor 45 destroyed by defensive Honduras on the go-slow. #AUSvHON — Ben McKay (@benmackey) November 15, 2017

What's the point of 75% possession when you create two chances in a half? #AUSvHON — Luke Henriques-Gomes (@lukehgomes) November 15, 2017

I'm gonna say it - this game is terrible so far. #AUSvHON #GoSocceroos — Travis Meyn (@travismeyn) November 15, 2017

Not really good enough from Australia in the first half. #AUSvHON — Marco Monteverde (@marcothejourno) November 15, 2017

Mooy picked up a yellow card on the stroke of halftime for a challenge on Palacios.

7.50pm

Train delays curse fans

Socceroos fans have been frustrated by major delays to the Sydney train network — preventing them from arriving at the game by kick-off.

A tree blocking the tracks earlier in the day caused delays to the line that carries passengers to Olympic Park.

Angry commuters were encouraged to switch lines but many are still stuck in carriages as the game begins.

DELAYS to special event services btwn Central and Olympic Park due to a tree blocking the tracks earlier.

There are now plenty of trains arriving at Central to get you out to Olympic Park. pic.twitter.com/qyC9uZb9IG — T7 Sydney Trains (@T7SydneyTrains) November 15, 2017

What do you do when the Sydney Trains are super delayed and 1000s of fans are late trying to get to the game?



This guy is doing play-by-play for our train car off his mate's mobile phone! #GoSocceroos 🇦🇺 pic.twitter.com/GgIZCFmFrk — Jaime Stein (@jaimestein) November 15, 2017

7.45pm

Support floods in for Socceroos

The whole nation is behind the Socceroos and messages of support have flooded social media in the lead-up to kick-off.

Let’s go @MatyRyan and the @Socceroos the whole country’s behind you 🙌🏻🙌🏻 — Clinton Gutherson (@ClintGutherson) November 15, 2017

Good luck lads , although you guys don’t need it ! You got this and we are all behind you 👊🏻 #AUSvsHON 🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺 — adam federici (@federici32) November 15, 2017

Come on @Socceroos!!



There is only so much joy one can fit in in one day but I’ve left some room for you. pic.twitter.com/ubDbYINHPQ — Andy Lee (@andy_lee) November 15, 2017

7.05pm

‘It’s just not good enough’

The problem that has plagued the Socceroos’ entire qualifying campaign is looming as the biggest barrier to World Cup qualification.

Australia just hasn’t been able to finish in front of goal. From the 40-plus shots taken against Thailand at home in September for only two goals to the missed chances in the first leg against Honduras, an inability to take chances has haunted Ange Postecoglou’s team.

Nobody doubts Australia was the better side in San Pedro Sula and plenty have said a similar performance will see the home side coast towards Russia. But if the men in gold are as inaccurate as they were on Saturday, then a World Cup berth is no certainty.

Former Socceroo Andy Harper, who is commentating the match for Fox Sports, laid that brutal reality out in no uncertain terms.

“Statistically it’s taking Australia 10 efforts at the target for each goal they score and it’s just not good enough at this level,” Harper said in the pre-game coverage.

“If you’re Ange Postecoglou in the pre-game speech you’re evoking the legendary words of Harry ‘Breaker’ Morant — ‘Shoot straight you bastards.’”

6.35pm

Starting XI finalised

Ange Postecoglou has made four changes to the 11 that took the field for kick-off in Saturday’s first leg.

Tim Cahill will start tonight’s qualifier as the lone striker, taking Tomi Juric’s spot. Tom Rogic also starts in an attacking position behind Cahill while Mark Milligan comes in to partner Mile Jedinak as another anchor in central midfield.

“He (Cahill) has trained, he’s done everything right and from our point of view, a medical point of view, he’s ready to start. How long he lasts — you kind of don’t know,” Postecoglou said.

“He showed against Syria he can graft out 120 minutes and be effective, so yeah, it’s good to have him in there.”

The reshuffle in the middle of the park means there’s no room for Massimo Luongo, who was Australia’s best in San Pedro Sula.

The final change sees Mathew Leckie return from suspension, taking his place on the right wing in place of Josh Risdon.

6.25pm

‘You don’t deserve to be there’

If the Socceroos don’t qualify for the World Cup they will have nobody to blame but themselves.

Next year’s showpiece tournament will be without footballing powerhouses Italy and the Netherlands after both countries were shockingly knocked out in the qualifying stages, while America will also be watching from afar after choking to completely bungle its chance at flying to Russia.

And if Australia follows suit tonight, former Socceroos goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer will have little sympathy. Speaking about the big names who failed to make the cut, the international veteran said nobody has a “divine right” to appear the prestigious tournament.

“There’s no divine right to be at the World Cup. If you don’t do what you need to do to qualify, then you don’t deserve to be there,” Schwarzer told Sportsday.

But he doesn’t believe the Aussies will suffer the same fate as those countries above, saying their performance in the first leg bodes well for what will go down against Honduras tonight.

“I think the Socceroos will win. They will take a huge amount of confidence from the first game against Honduras,” Schwarzer said.

6pm

Bosnich has his say on Cahill, Postecoglou

Australian football great Mark Bosnich has weighed in on what role Tim Cahill should play tonight and what’s in store for coach Ange Postecoglou.

Cahill remained on the bench for the first leg in San Pedro Sula after suffering an ankle injury playing for A-League club Melbourne City, and his fitness remains a talking point heading into tonight’s clash.

Bosnich said if fit, Cahill must start.

“If he’s fit he’s got to start,” Bosnich told SEN’s The Run Home. “No disrespect to any other players but I’m sure if he was fit and playing on Saturday we’d be carrying a one goal if not a two-goal lead into this occasion.

“He’s been absolutely phenomenal during this qualifying campaign. I don’t think he’s been used as much as he should have been but that doesn’t matter.

“He’s got a massive role to play tonight and I believe he should and he will start.”

Cahill’s immediate future is a hot topic and Postecoglou’s reign as coach will also draw questions regardless of tonight’s result. Reports suggested the Socceroos mentor would step down following the two-leg tie against Honduras but in a recent profile on the ABC’s Australian Story, he implied he’d stay on if his charges qualified for Russia 2018.

Bosnich said he believes Postecoglou will remain in charge if Australia qualifies, but has no problem with him quitting.

“I’m sure I saw him say when the World Cup journey ends, my journey ends,” Bosnich said. “I’m taking from that if we qualify he may stay.

“If we do qualify he’s done his job so if he wants to leave he can leave.

“The most important thing is to qualify the football team. There’s no person in this game, in Australia especially, that’s bigger than the code itself.

“If he qualifies us, thankyou very much, all the very best, we understand that he wants to leave — he can go.

“But from that interview that he did ... he said when the World Cup journey ends, my journey ends.”

5.25pm

Possible Aussie catastrophe on the cards

Win and all is hunky dory, but fail to qualify for the World Cup and Australian football faces a truckload of problems not just on the pitch but off it too.

Football Federation Australia (FFA) is already dealing with financial struggles and is under siege from furious A-League clubs over a drawn-out congress spat set to boil over in the coming weeks, and a loss tonight would only add more misery to a dicey situation.

Commentator Simon Hill has laid bare just how catastrophic a state the round ball game could find itself in Down Under, saying it could be without a national team coach, without a board, without a chairman and without millions of dollars to go without a World Cup berth should Honduras prevail tonight.

“We’ve got this AGM (Annual General Meeting) looming at the end of the month, and I know this is not on the pitch stuff but it is equally important,” Hill told SEN Afternoons.

“Should they fail to qualify for Russia, we could be in the scenario where we have no national team coach, we’re not going to the World Cup and we could be without a board and without a chairman come December 1.

“That’s worst case scenario obviously, but it is important, not the least financially as well. There is probably $12-$15 million at stake here for qualification.

“(A loss) would be a retrograde step and one that we obviously don’t want, so let’s hope it doesn’t eventuate.”

4.15pm

Anthem flashpoint looms

Those who were at ANZ Stadium in 2005 when Australia last had a World Cup playoff of this magnitude against Uruguay, and those who watched on TV, will remember the cacophony of boos that drowned out the visitors’ national anthem.

Jeers rang out around the stadium to let Uruguay know Australia wasn’t going to take a backward step.

The reaction was driven primarily by the harsh treatment of the Socceroos in Montevideo ahead of the first leg and also four years prior. Players’ bags were intentionally held at the airport and locals were paid to spit in the visitors’ faces and hurl abuse at them.

Speaking to broadcaster Mark Howard in an episode of his latest podcast series The Moment — a six part documentary series looking at the biggest moments in Australian sport — former stars Tony Vidmar and Mark Bresciano said hearing those boos was music to the Socceroos’ ears.

“That definitely I won’t forget. As soon as the national anthem from Uruguay was on just the 80,000 boos and jeers and whistles,” Vidmar said. “I was like, ‘Holy f***, this is good.’

“People can say it’s un-Australian but for me it was Australian because we know what happened to us, the treatment that we got, and now it was time for us to pay them back in that regard.”

Bresciano said the bad blood between the countries meant he had no sympathy for the Uruguayans.

“That was the best moment of my footballing career,” he said. “And I think this was the first time where we all stood up as a nation and said, ‘No, the way you treated us over there, we’ll treat you the same down here,’ and well done to them (the fans).”

The animosity between Australia and Honduras doesn’t have the same venom — but it’s still there. The central American country was angry Australian media cracked jokes at its social problems and San Pedro Sula’s local paper led with a front page before the first leg on Saturday calling the Aussies “kangaroos” with a “simple” game plan.

Ange Postecoglou returned fire after the match, calling the sledges “disrespectful”. And just yesterday Honduras coach Luis Pinto accused Australia of “embarrassing football espionage”, believing a drone flying overhead of his side’s training session was a desperate ploy by the hosts to gain an advantage.

So will this be enough to fuel a scene reminiscent of what we saw 12 years ago? Perhaps Vidmar and Bresciano wouldn’t mind a replay of that famous night, but Tim Cahill hopes nothing sours the away side’s anthem, especially after the Honduran locals were so respectful of the Australian anthem on Saturday.

“Credit to the Hondurans, especially with the national anthem,” Cahill said on Monday. “It was silent. It was respectful.

“It really touched a lot of us. I was speaking to Tommy (Rogic) on the bench, saying how nice that was.

“It definitely wasn’t what it was portrayed to be. I hope they have the same experience we had there and we can repay the respects of what their country did for us.”

4pm

Cahill wants one more Socceroos push

Socceroos leaders Tim Cahill and Mile Jedinak say giving the next generation of Australian footballers the chance to play against football’s very best is inspiring them to reach the World Cup.

Cahill, 37, and Jedinak, 33, are no strangers to the biggest sporting show on Earth — bar maybe the Olympics.

The Socceroos’ all-time leading scorer has been to — and scored at — the last three World Cups. Australia’s skipper was at the last two.

But they want the chance to play alongside the likes of Trent Sainsbury, Robbie Kruse, Aaron Mooy and Tom Rogic in Russia.

Cahill hopes those yet to reach the tournament are driven to play with them, and fellow three-tournament veteran Mark Milligan.

“That’s got to be their motivation, for them and the next group of lads coming through,” he said. “They’ve got to understand how big it is.

“Having Mile in camp and now Millsy back, we can drive in-house messages to the lads about preparation.

“Those little things that make a difference on the night.

“The most telling thing on Wednesday night will be composure.”

Kruse and Sainsbury missed out on the 2014 tournament in Brazil through injury. Rogic couldn’t break out of his own injury run to make a case for selection, while Aaron Mooy was yet to show the form that would take him to the English Premier League.

Others, like Tomi Juric, Aziz Behich and Jackson Irvine are looking to make their debut on the world stage.

Jedinak said the chance to represent Australia in front of the world has been present through the marathon 22-match, 29-month qualifying campaign.

“This whole campaign, we’ve touched on what it means,” he said. “It was instilled in us a long, long time ago.

“We talked about the impact we wanted to make and what we wanted to do and achieve and the importance of that by everyone in our squad.

“Its now making sure we’re tuned in and we’re 100 per cent prepared to execute what we want to do on that pitch on Wednesday night.”

Of that, Cahill is confident.

“We’re ready. I like what I see,” he said.

“I’m buzzing with a group of players. It feels like this is our time.

“On the night it will come down to someone taking their chance, the defining moment that separates men from boys.”

— Ben McKay, AAP

3.45pm

$12.5 million on the line

A nation’s reputation. $12.5 million in cash. Priceless publicity.

That’s what’s at stake should the Socceroos fail to qualify for a fourth consecutive World Cup.

Lose to Honduras, or draw with any other scoreline than 0-0 at ANZ Stadium on Wednesday night, and the ramifications will reverberate far wider than the 11 men on the field in green and gold.

Immediately, the focus will centre around the future of coach Ange Postecoglou following a month of intense speculation he will walk either way it goes. In the longer term, the fallout will bite Football Federation Australia’s fiscal bottom line at a time it can least afford it.

Just for qualifying, Australia would receive a major cash windfall. All teams that make Russia 2018 are provided US$1.5 million (A$2 million) by FIFA to cover preparation costs, along with a further US$8 million (A$10.5 million) for contesting the group phase — minus player payments and significant logistical costs.

Advance further, as Guus Hiddink’s golden generation did in Germany 2006, and the figure rises exponentially.

US$12 million (A$15.7 million) to make the round of 16 and US$16 million (A$21 million) for a quarter-finals berth.

This is one element — and a big one at that given FFA’s financial struggles that have contributed to the local game’s state of flux.

But the governing body will also be banking on the international exposure that comes with participating in the world’s showpiece tournament, the best kind for marketing the game in Australia.

On the flip side, coming up short won’t just mean a lack of eyeballs but also a hit to the reputation of a national team that has qualified for three consecutive campaigns.

That wouldn’t be pretty for FFA, which is already fighting fires on multiple fronts and under siege from furious A-League clubs over the drawn-out congress spat set to boil over in the coming weeks.

Of course, the game is thriving in other areas — the Matildas have deservedly leapt into the limelight and brought the W-League with them. Whether that would be enough to offset Australia’s absence from a World Cup gets a different answer depending who’s asked.

Postecoglou, for one, was adamant the sport would survive.

“For the game, it’s always important that you’re there when the World Cup is played,” Postecoglou said.

“You saw Italy miss out this morning and you realise the impact that has.

“But not qualifying doesn’t mean the game ceases to exist.

“It’s more about our continued growth, and as I’ve said all along, we’ve got to be really ambitious in the way we approach international football and wanting to qualify and wanting do well at a World Cup.”

— Emma Kemp, AAP