Tom Rogic was the star as Australia picked Vietnam apart in a 4-0 win over Vietnam in a 2022 World Cup qualifying bout at AAMI Park on Tuesday night.
The Celtic midfielder put a goal on the board just before the break after assisting Jamie Maclaren’s opener to put Australia in a commanding position at the break.
Vietnam started the second half on the front foot before Socceroos substitutes Craig Goodwin and Riley McGree came off the bench and onto the scoresheet to give Australia three vital points in their qualification run.
KEEPUP followed along LIVE to bring you all the latest news, scores and biggest talking points as they happen as Australia host Vietnam at AAMI Park on Tuesday, January 27 (kick-off: 8.10pm AEDT).
MATCH REPORT: SOCCEROOS 4-0 VIETNAM
REACTION
‘It’s a tribute to them’ – Why ‘tears and smiles’ flowed for Goodwin’s first Socceroos goal
With the rain pouring down at AAMI Park, Craig Goodwin slid to his knees with a beaming smile on his face.
But then, his face fell into his hands, as he bowed his head to the ground. He stood and looked up into the pouring rain with two fingers pointed back from where the raindrops fell.
‘A few tears and smiles – that’s what scoring for your country means,” said Network 10 commentator Simon Hill. But to Goodwin – who had just netted his very first goal in green and gold – the moment meant something more, in so many ways.
““I guess my point to the sky started with my grandma, but now there’s been multiple people that have passed in my life – it’s a tribute to them,” Goodwin told Network 10 post-match.
He added: “I’m kind of lost for words to be honest. I think for me personally it’s a great moment, but there’s a lot of emotion that goes into it after the back end of last year, being injured, trying to work myself back into form, my contract situation with (Saudi), what was going to happen, was I going to stay here, so it’s a very rewarding feeling for me and for my family as well.
“Orgininally the decision was for family reasons. My partner Katelyn was pregnant with our now-son Ezra. It was a decision to come back and be in a comfortable setting with family support, and right now it’s working.”
Riley McGree – Australia’s next Premier League star?
“Might we be seeing the next Australian Premier League player?” Asked Network 10 co-commentator Andy Harper after Riley McGree drilled the Socceroos’ third goal of the night into the bottom-right corner from range.
“If he can do this more often than not for (Middlesbrough), they’ll be Premier League bound!”
It was a smashing finish from Riley McGree to put Australia four goals to the good over Vietnam – and it came just moments after his emergence from the Socceroos bench.
It looked far too easy for McGree, who only just signed a contract to take him to English Championship side Middlesbrough FC.
Reproducing this kind of form for his new club side could see Middlesbrough – currently eighth in the Championship – climb into the playoff places and make a push for England’s top flight.
READ: The making of Riley McGree
‘I loved every moment of it’ – King soaks up Socceroos debut
If not for a snowstorm in Istanbul, it may never have happened.
But with regular Socceroos left-back Aziz Behich stuck in Turkey, the opportunity came for A-Leagues defender Joel King, at 21 years of age, to make his senior debut for his country.
After keeping clean sheet in the 4-0 win, Socceroo #615 reflected on a frantic start to an occasion he grew into with every pass, every challenge and every minute of a special night at AAMI Park.
“It was amazing,” King told Network 10. “Walking out in front of this massive crowd and playing for Australia was a dream come true. I loved every moment of it.
“I was very nervous, but the first 10 or 15 minutes the nerves went away, I started to get into my groove and just play my normal game.
“I remember I thought it was going for half an hour or something, then I looked at the clock and it was eight minutes.
“The first 10 minutes were a bit frantic… but towards the end we got in our groove and kept the ball for decent spells, so after all it was a good performance from the boys.”
King added: “Yesterday morning I found out the news that Aziz couldn’t make the flight over. Straight away I thought it’s a chance for me, but of course (Graham Arnold) could’ve put someone else there.
“Arnie clearly had enough faith in me, so I can’t thank him enough trusting me to play tonight. I really enjoyed it.”
FULL-TIME: Socceroos coast to 4-0 victory (9.05pm AEDT)
“Job done for Australia – a much needed win for the Socceroos. They’re back on track after three winless matches.”
Simon Hill put the final words on a comprehensive Australia win over Vietnam at AAMI Park, with two second-half goals to Craig Goodwin and Riley McGree complimenting Tom Rogic and Jamie Maclaren finishes in the opening 45 to give the Socceroos a 4-0 win.
‘A few tears and smiles – that’s what scoring for your country means’ (9.43pm AEDT)
Adelaide United winger Craig Goodwin let the emotions flow after scoring his first goal for the national side to put Australia 3-0 up at AAMI Park.
The goal came after a sustained spell of Vietnam pressure – and it came in the simplest of ways, with Maty Ryan bombing the ball from his own penalty area into the path of Goodwin to steam into the box and lift the ball over an outrushing keeper.
One can only imagine why the tears came for Goodwin in the aftermath, as he pointed to the sky in a touching moment of personal poignancy for the Reds forward.
Vietnam turning up the temperature at AAMI Park (9.33pm AEDT)
Maty Ryan didn’t know much about the shot as it flew off Nguyễn Công Phượng’s boot from inside the six-yard box, but as it struck the shoulder of the Socceroos keeper, diverting out for a corner, the danger signs were more than apparent: Australia are under the pump by the visitors at AAMI Park.
Danger signs for Socceroos as Vietnam start second half brightly (9.22pm AEDT)
A well-worked combination between Đỗ Hùng Dũng and Phạm Tuấn Hải saw the latter whip a left-footed strike from the edge of the box just past the post in Vietnam’s best chance of the night, coming early in the second half to warn the Socceroos of the potential for a fightback from the visitors.
Vietnam have started on the front foot in the second 45, venturing into attack at the same regularity as Australia throughout the opening 10 minutes of the half. The Socceroos will hope to extend the advantage and notch and emphatic home result, but can’t write off the threat of the visitors going the other way.
IT’S TWO: Rogic on the scoresheet after Leckie slipped through pass (8.58pm AEDT)
He scored in the first minute of the game, and the last minute of first-half extra time – but only the second finish made its way onto the scoresheet as Australia carved out a two-goal lead to take into the break.
Rogic saw his initial strike chalked off but there was no erasing his second from the scoresheet; his comfortable run through the middle of the park was spotted by Leckie who slid a well-weighted through ball in for Rogic to tuck home with ease.
GOAL! J-Mac the scorer as Rogic, Leckie combine (8.42pm AEDT)
“It was an inch-perfect ball from Tomi Rogic” said Hill on commentary, as the Celtic star put a floated left-footed lofted pass onto the head of Jamie Maclaren to leap toward and head into the bottom-right corner of Vietnam’s goal.
Scoring four goals in four games for Melbourne City before his departure for international duty put Maclaren in great stead to score in green and gold tonight – and that’s exactly what the City spearhead did to put Australia 1-0 ahead just beyond the half-hour mark with his 32nd goal at AAMI Park.
First Vietnam corner almost ends in tragedy for the visitors (8.31pm AEDT)
The visitors won a corner on a rare foray forward, and it was met with rousing applause from the Vietnamese fans in the stands.
But the resulting set piece was a mess, with the short corner option swiftly intercepted as Australia launched a swift counter attack. The ball ended in Jamie Maclaren’s possession, who had Martin Boyle streaming in on goal – but the Melbourne City striker left his through pass too late, leaving Boyle well offside.
The Socceroos have gone close to breaking the deadlock on multiple occasions, with Leckie very busy in attack; his connection with Sky Blues defender Joel King has been effective thus far as Australia look for a way through.
‘A quite dramatic start’ – Rogic scores in seconds, but VAR has the final say (8.11pm AEDT)
With less than one minute on the clock, Australia had the ball in the back of the net – but a moment of pure drama was wiped off the scoresheet after a VAR check found Jackson Irvine offside and within the line of eyesight of Vietnam goalkeeper Bùi Tấn Trường.
It was a potential fire-starter for the home side which ignited the home crowd into rapturous applause, but Vietnam were handed a lifeline they gratefully accepted as play continues with scores locked at 0-0.
KICK-OFF: Socceroos v Vietnam kick off in front of packed house in Melbourne (8.10pm AEDT)
Both Australian and Vietnamese fans alike belted out their respective national anthems as passion and national pride flowed through the stands at AAMI Park prior to kick-off.
There’s an electric atmosphere in the stadium as play gets underway, with Australia chasing a huge win on the road to Qatar.
No Arnold on the touchline for Australia (7.20pm AEDT)
Football Australia has confirmed Socceroos boss Graham Arnold will not be pitch-side as his team takes on Vietnam at AAMI Park.
A statement from the FA says that Arnold is “in great spirits and asymptomatic” after testing positive to COVID-19. Arnold will be linked up to his technical staff from his room tonight, with a decision to be made on whether he travels to Oman for Australia’s next World Cup qualifier in the early hours of February 2 (AEDT).
TEAM NEWS: Joel King to make Socceroos bow as Leckie starts (7.00pm AEDT)
In the absence of Aziz Behich, Sydney FC’s Joel King becomes Socceroo #615 with a starting role on the left side of Australia’s defence.
A snowstorm in Istanbul stranded Behich in Turkey, leaving an opportunity for the young A-Leagues defender to play from the start.
Fellow Isuzu UTE A-League youngsters Marco Tilio and Kye Rowles – who like King are called up to the senior Australia squad for the first time – make the bench, whilst Mathew Leckie starts in attack despite a dip in form at club side Melbourne City.
Goalkeeper Mathew Ryan dons the captains armband as Jackson Irvine is joined by Aaron Mooy and Tom Rogic in the centre of midfield.
Martin Boyle and Jamie Maclaren will support Leckie up front.
