Here’s your match report from Mike Hytner at ANZ Stadium.
They came to bid farewell to a legend but as one hero departed, did Australia witness the arrival of another? Goodbye and good luck Tim Cahill. Hello and welcome Martin Boyle, whose two goals and an assist in an electric performance showed the Socceroos do indeed know how to find the back of the net in the absence of their all-time leading goalscorer.
Summary
Dealing with the main event first, that was a solid if unspectacular performance from a much-changed Australia. Of those auditioning for places in Graham Arnold’s Asian Cup side only Martin Boyle really put up his hand with an impressive first-half showing. Mustafa Amini, Rhyan Grant and Awer Mabil all did well but Tomi Juric failed to boost his chances of cementing his spot as Australia’s regular striker. Finding a number 9 is now becoming a concern with Apostolos Giannou, Jamie Maclaren and now Juric all failing to make the most of their opportunities.
Moving on to Tim Cahill, the veteran received the biggest cheer of the night at the start of his ten-minute cameo. He didn’t look out of place on the pitch and was inches away from a couple of fairytale goalscoring opportunities. Following the game he made a tearful address to the crowd, saluting his family and acknowledging the support he’s received throughout his career. “I’ve never left anything off the pitch,” he declared with tears in his eyes. Lovely stuff.
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Australia 3-0 Lebanon
That’s it, a routine win for Australia on a night anything but for Tim Cahill. The Socceroo legend’s international career comes to a fitting end, in his hometown, wearing the captain’s armband.
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90+3 min: The free-kick hits the wall.
90+3 min: Lebanon rebound up the other end and win a free-kick just on the edge of the box.
90+2 min: Nabbout off the post! Swift counter from Australia, started by Jeggo, led by Leckie and almost finished first time by Nabbout but his curling effort hits the frame of the goal with Cahill unable to locate the rebound.
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90 min: Pitch invader. Three minutes of added time.
89 min: Cahill is stationed in the Lebanon box and ball after ball is aimed in his direction but the delivery isn’t up to scratch.
86 min: Sainsbury’s substitution means Cahill has received the captain’s armband for the final few minutes. And the fairytale ending almost came true for the veteran with Leckie floating an inviting cross over the six-yard box, arrowing towards that famous forehead but a Lebanese defender has the temerity to do his job properly and flicks the ball clear.
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85 min: Sainsbury makes way for Matt Jurman, making it three of Arnie’s former Sydney FC charges on the field, joining Grant and Vukovic. Phil Withall (see pregame blog), you can take off the tinfoil hat now.
84 min: Clearest chance of the night for Lebanon falls to Maatouk. A long ball following a poor turnover finds the speedster in acres of space down the left and after cutting inside he fires wide from a narrow angle.
83 min: The resulting free-kick is dangerous but Vukovic calmly attends to the situation.
82 min: Skipper Sainsbury is in the book for a clumsy challenge on Rabin Ataya. As with the Korea game the normally dependable centre-half has been a shade off his game.
81 min: Here we go. A big hug from Graham Arnold, a standing ovation from ANZ Stadium, and Tim Cahill comes on for his final appearance in an Australian shirt. Aaron Mooy made way, by the way.
80 min: Nearly Cahill time. He’s high-fiving all the other substitutes, peeling off his tabbard and squirting his face with water.
79 min: “Tiiiiimmmmy, Tiiiiimmmmy” is the cry from the stands. There is a game still going on despite the sideshow and it involves Grant bursting clear down the right and crossing for Nabbout but he can’t get enough purchase on his awkward header.
77 min: Nabbout comes close to making it four. Lovely work from Leckie in the build-up, laying it on a plate for his fellow sub but he shoots too close to Mehdi Khalil and the keeper smartly tips the strike over the bar.
75 min: Biggest cheer of the night greets Tim Cahill warming up. The camera pans to Rene Meulensteen, the former Manchester United assistant coach wearing the expression of a man who doesn’t know what to make of it all.
72 min: Australia showing more fluency since that third goal and Leckie’s introduction.
Another change from Arnold, and another debut, this time for James Jeggo who replaces the industrious Amini who put in a decent shift.
69 min: The disappointing Juric is replaced by Andrew Nabbout. Arnold’s search for a centre-forward reaches its fourth audition in three games.
GOAL! Australia 3-0 Lebanon (Leckie 68)
Lovely finish from the substitute Leckie, pivoting and firing first time on the half-volley with power following a neat cross from Boyle.
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67 min: Boyle’s not been sighted much this half but he shows his turn of pace again and whips in a cross that Mehdi Khalil does well to dive into the path of.
ATTENDANCE | Thank you to the 33,268 fans who came out to see us tonight in Sydney! #GoSocceroos #ThanksTim #AUSvLIB pic.twitter.com/wRfZFSEMm2
— Caltex Socceroos (@Socceroos) November 20, 2018
65 min: Time for that Australian change with Mabil replaced by Leckie. Mabil had a decent night without being spectacular, confirming once again he is at home at the highest level.
64 min: Lebanon look the more likely at the moment with Maatouk causing all sorts of problems with his quick feet. The final ball is lacking though, on one occasion only due to the smart intervention of Behich.
63 min: Lebanon have made another change with Ataya replacing Ayass. Probably time for an Australian change or two now. This match is drifting.
62 min: Lebanon enjoy another tidy spell of possession, this time penetrating Australia’s box but the cutback goes to waste with not enough red shirts advancing in support.
60 min: There’s a lack of fizz to this half, typified by a laboured Australian build-up ending with Mooy being robbed in possession.
58 min: Decent combination down the left for Australia between Mooy, Mabil and Behich ends with the latter clattering a right-footed shot into the side-netting.
56 min: What these Lebanese attacks are exposing is Australia’s gaps in midfield with four genuine forwards leaving a huge space between them and the rapidly backtracking Irvine and Amini.
54 min: After accepting whatever came at them in the first half Lebanon have emerged in the second period ready to play. When Australian attacks break down they are now met by counters with intent and a few more red shirts than were committed before the break.
53 min: Juric has another nearly moment after Mooy’s chipped cross hangs in his airspace. The striker can’t make satisfying first connection and from the ensuing scramble can only scuff his attempt straight at the Lebanese keeper.
50 min: Corner for Lebanon! An Australian corner is dealt with comfortably and from the break the visitors go down the other end to give their fans a moment to cheer. Vukovic does well to punch the set-piece clear.
49 min: Mooy has a handy habit of knowing exactly where the ball’s going to break and being around to collect the bits and pieces. He’s been busy in the number 10 role tonight with lots of probing one and two touch passes keeping Australia in motion.
46 min: When will Cahill come on? That is the question on everyone’s lips at ANZ Stadium. Well, perhaps not Mustafa Amini who drove a low shot on target that Mehdi Khalil gathered comfortably.
Second half about to get underway in Sydney. One change for Australia with Mat Ryan replaced by Danny Vukovic.
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Half-Time: Australia 2-0 Lebanon
Solid half from Australia with a richly deserved two goal lead. Martin Boyle has been the standout with his brace capping off a performance of willing running and trickery.
Nobody has harmed their chances of inclusion in the Asian Cup squad although Tomi Juric will see this as a missed opportunity if his form doesn’t pick up in the second half.
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45+1 min: First moment of real alarm this half for the home side with Hassan Maatouk skinning Sainsbury in the box and heading towards goal before Degenek slid in to clear any danger. No time for the corner.
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GOAL! Australia 2-0 Lebanon (Boyle 41)
Mooy’s set-pieces have been much better tonight than they were against Korea and a couple of corners in quick succession eventually force a goal. Outswinger from the right, thumping unmarked header from Degenek against the bar, Boyle on the spot to accept the rebound and jab into an empty net.
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40 min: The Guardian’s man on the ground has just described Martin Boyle to me as “basically a young Craig Bellamy” which is both accurate and a compliment.
38 min: Juric again fails to capitalise on a half-chance. The big striker received the ball nicely in behind the Lebanon defence but his second touch denied him a shooting opportunity.
37 min: Australia haven’t been in sync for a few minutes, but the Lebanese FA Twitter account is having a blinder.
35'
— FALebanon (@FALebanon) November 20, 2018
First ball in area!#AUSvLIB #YallaLebnen
35 min: Another reasonable Lebanon counter should have caused Australia more problems than it did but Degenek did well one on one with Hassan Maatouk.
33 min: Personal gripe time - indulge me, if you will. A-League coaches can’t sit still. They’re always barking orders, patrolling their technical areas, kicking every pass, riding every challenge, appealing every decision. It irritates me. Anyway, Arnold is doing exactly that tonight and, for wont of a better turn of phrase, it’s a bit unbecoming of an international football manager.
32 min: Mabil should do better after good work down the left from Behich but he delays his shot and strikes a Lebanese defender.
30 min: Australia’s attacking shape is increasingly clear. It features the two sixes in tandem at the base of midfield with Mooy and one of the wingers coming inside to mirror those positions further forward, forming a square and vertical passing lanes. The two fullbacks hug the touchline and Juric is the target in the middle.
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27 min: Lebanon enjoy their first attack of the night, and it ends with a shocking dive from substitute Haidar. The Japanese referee didn’t want a bar of it.
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26 min: Grant has been industrious down the right on debut, replicating Risdon’s excellent showing against Korea. You sense there’s a mistake in him or a lack of tactical discipline, but he’s a handy inclusion for matches like these when Australia are the only team taking part.
23 min: A couple of nice moments from Mabil come to nothing but Australia are in the ascendancy now, capitalising on the acres of space afforded them by Lebanon’s deep-lying defence.
Also, props to the Socceroos social media for the 99 reference.
YES BOYLE! DEBUT GOAL FOR 🇦🇺! #AUSvLIB #GoSocceroos pic.twitter.com/N0hr0nSSal
— Caltex Socceroos (@Socceroos) November 20, 2018
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GOAL! Australia 1-0 Lebanon (Boyle 19)
It had to be Martin Boyle. The Hibs flyer has been the standout player on the park so far and he caps his performance with a goal - sort of.
Collecting the ball on the inside-left channel Boyle drove into space before letting fly on the edge of the D, his shot ricocheted off a Lebanese defender and wrong-footed Mehdi Khalil. If you were uncharitable you might credit the OG but I’m giving it to the lively number 24.
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18 min: Closest to an Australian goal yet but Behich’s dangerous cross is smuggled wide desperately before Juric can tap in. It goes without saying Boyle was prominent in creating the opening. As well as Boyle, Mooy is now an influential figure.
16 min: Most good things have involved Boyle and he again drives forward at pace to create another half-chance for Juric but the centre-forward can’t turn and shoot in the same motion with any purpose. Boyle popping up on the inside-left channel this time.
15 min: This is not a thill-a-minute rock n roll blockbuster extravaganza. Lebanon are happy to keep the tempo slow and Australia have yet to figure out how to break through the red wall. Mooy is increasingly dropping deep to receive possession and spark play.
13 min: Half-chance for Juric following a Mooy set-piece but he’s adjudged to have fouled his man in the box climbing for a header.
11 min: Lebanon are sitting deep, happy to give Australia time and space. This will be just the kind of test Graham Arnold will learn a lot from ahead of an Asian Cup campaign in which they can be expected to dominate possession in the early phases.
9 min: Boyle again looks dangerous for Australia, shaping to go inside his man then jinking outside - a move I’m sure we’ll soon become familiar with - then whipping over a low cross that isn’t honoured by a gambling attacker.
8 min: Along with Amini, Boyle has stood out in these early exchanges looking to carry the ball at pace whenever he receives possession. It can involved running down blind alleys but there’s an energy and industry that is enjoyable to watch.
5 min: Early sub for Lebanon with Haidar having to come on for Omar Bugiel who pulled up with one of those hammy strains that makes you wince, shake your head, and mutter four-to-six.
4 min: Oooooh, almost the opener for Australia and almost a maiden goal for Boyle. The Scottish-born flyer skipped to the byline, chipped over a cross that wasn’t cleared. Behich recovered possession and once the ball was sent back into the danger zone it was Boyle unmarked at the far post to angle a volley that almost nutmegged the Lebanon keeper.
3 min: Amini has caught the eye on a couple of occasions early, driving forward from the base of midfield with no little vim. He is receiving the first pass from defence and taking responsibility for advancing the ball downfield.
2 min: Not a lot to report early. Australia yet to hit the tempo they struck in the opening stages against Korea. Positionally, Mooy is operating in the space vacated by Rogic, and Amini in turn is occupying the deep-lying playmaker role.
Peeeeeeeepppppppp!
Underway in Sydney...
One last time. #ThanksTim pic.twitter.com/S0a7vra0wS
— Caltex Socceroos (@Socceroos) November 20, 2018
Conditions in Sydney are excellent. The pitch looks tidy (which is never a given at the Olympic stadium), there’s no rain, little wind, and the temperature is pleasantly in the low 20s.
The two sides are making their way out onto the ANZ Stadium turf. Australia, as is now customary, are head to toe in gold, Lebanon a wall of red.
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The retiring Cahill’s landmarks include:
- Most Socceroo goals - 50 - a whopping 21 more than second-placed Damian Mori.
- Five World Cup goals - another Australian record.
- Found the back of the net at three different World Cups (only Miroslav Klose, Cristiano Ronaldo, Uwe Seeler and Pelé have scored at more).
- Most-capped outfield Socceroo. Cahill will retire with 108 caps, one shy of Mark Schwarzer’s record.
He’ll be missed.
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That 7.30pm kick-off time was a straight out lie from whoever published the fixture. The players are still out on the ANZ Stadium turf warming up, meaning we’re a good few minutes away from starting.
While you’re waiting, if you haven’t caught up with all the recent off-field shenanigans yet, here’s my take on the FFA board election that took place yesterday.
If Monday’s outcome – a democratically elected board, voted in by a more representative congress – can be considered a landmark accomplishment, the process by which it came about leaves a bitter taste. Only the players’ union were transparent in support of their candidates and only they outlined their decision-making rationale. That the other congress members chose not to testifies to the great distance still to go before Australian football governance is as democratic and accountable as it should aspire to be.
Aside from the geographical proximity to Australia’s Asian Cup rivals there are many other advantages to hosting a friendly with Lebanon, not least the large Lebanese population in Sydney who are set to give tonight’s friendly a carnival atmosphere.
SHOUTOUTS to the @FALebanon fans for bringing the Cedar passion 🥁 🇱🇧 #AUSvLIB #YallaLebnen pic.twitter.com/3XkWq3oeg1
— ANZ Stadium (@ANZStadium) November 20, 2018
Wonderful Lebanese fans!#yallalebnen #ausvlib pic.twitter.com/zvEesfegYY
— FALebanon (@FALebanon) November 20, 2018
OUT......STANDING. #AUSvLIB https://t.co/X0FHZy5RvI
— 10 Sport (@10SportAU) November 20, 2018
I wrote a few words on Cahill a couple of months ago when he first announced his international retirement.
Cahill’s international career was one defined by moments not aggregates. Examples are not difficult to recall, like netting Australia’s first ever World Cup finals goals in that never-to-be-forgotten comeback in Kaiserslautern, or smashing one of the most spectacular volleys in World Cup history against the Netherlands in 2014, to finding the back of the net twice against Syria at the age of 37 to keep his country’s 2018 World Cup dream alive. He was the definition of a big game player.
So, what can we expect from Australia tonight? To help, Ante Jukic cast his expert eye over the South Korea friendly, identifying some familiar challenges for new coach Graham Arnold.
First impressions show the central theme of Australia’s play under Ange Postecoglou and Bert van Marwijk could continue. Fundamentally, the Socceroos play in two gears on the ball – first and fifth. Interestingly, despite the effect goals have on a game’s complexion, and the difference in the two results, there was a link between the recent friendlies with Arnold at the helm – a fast start with optimal energy levels, a significant drop in tempo after the opening 20 minutes, and second-half substitutions affecting the team’s overall ball speed.
“Evening Jonathan,” evening Phil Withall. “Would it just be wildly wrong of me to suggest that previously playing for Graham Arnold might be a tad advantageous in progressing a Socceroos career? Or is it due to the incestuous nature of the A-League that means that players who don’t gravitate overseas will have, almost inevitably, ended up under his wing? I might be suffering from tin foil hat syndrome...”
I think you might be onto something Phil, and I don’t have any problem with it. Using Grant as one example, he’s a player he knows and trusts, and he can use him to help fast-track some of his tactical nuances from Sydney FC, which after all, is why he got the gig in the first place.
With regards someone like Amini I think there’s only upside. We’ve seen so many promising young players fail to flourish on the biggest stage for a variety of reasons, being able to discount any failure to understand the coach or the coach the player sounds good to me.
Graham Arnold has just spoken on TV. Here’s a selection of some of the choice cuts.
On ringing the changes “It’s about giving players an opportunity... creating more depth and competition for places.”
On Mabil and Boyle starting: “They’ve been rewarded for their impact. They’re exciting players.”
On the midfield mix: “Aaron will play more as a 10, Jackson and Musti will play as 6s with license to get forward.”
On Cahill: “Timmy’s fitted in great. There’s been no talk about his farewell but first and foremost is about winning tonight and improving on the South Korea game.”
Lebanon XI
Ranked 82nd in the world (ninth in Asia), Lebanon haven’t scored in their past three matches, a run including two draws as well as a defeat to Kuwait - the side Australia dispensed with easily last month in Graham Arnold’s return to the hot-seat. However, before that loss Lebanon went undefeated for two and a half years. Granted, their opponents during this run weren’t much chop but you can only beat what’s in front of you.
In this period Lebanon qualified for the 2019 Asian Cup. As near neighbours of Australia’s three group stage opponents in January (Syria, Palestine and Jordan) they provide classically stereotypical preparation for the Socceroos, one based on geographical proximity irrespective of any tactical similarities.
Lebanon XI vs Australia: Mahdi Khalil, Nassar Nassar, Kassem El Zein, Nour Mansour, Joan Oumari, Walid Ismail, Adnan Haidar, Samir Ayass, Hassan Maatouk (c), Bassel Jradi, Omar Bugiel Chaaban#YallaLebnen #AusvLib
— FALebanon (@FALebanon) November 20, 2018
Live on @mtvlebanon at 10:30am (Beirut Time) pic.twitter.com/JNNZ5OjQd7
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Australia XI
Graham Arnold has made seven changes to the side that started against South Korea on the weekend, taking the opportunity to experiment ahead of the Asian Cup. Rhyan Grant makes his international debut while Awer Mabil, Martin Boyle and Mustafa Amini all make their first starts at this level.
In case you missed it - here's how your @Socceroos are lining up tonight!#AUSvLIB #GoSocceroos pic.twitter.com/3cTyTJfxc1
— Caltex Socceroos (@Socceroos) November 20, 2018
So that means two changes in defence with Milos Degenek getting a start in place of Mark Milligan, and Rhyan Grant receiving the trust of his former Sydney FC boss at right back with Josh Risdon given a spell.
Aaron Mooy is now alongside Jackson Irvine and Mustafa Amini in midfield, the latter well known to Arnold from his Central Coast days and in line for just his fourth cap.
It is a completely revamped forward line and a massive opportunity for the trio of Awer Mabil, Tomi Juric and Martin Boyle to stake their claims for regular starts. A powerful showing from either Mabil or Boyle could put the pressure on Robbie Kruse, while Juric is the third number 9 in as many matches as Arnold figures out where goals are going to come from.
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Preamble
Good evening and welcome to another Guardian minute-by-minute extravaganza. Tonight we bring you Australia vs Lebanon from Sydney (AKA the Tim Cahill Testimonial). Kick-off is scheduled for 7.30pm local time (8am GMT).
Tonight’s match contains two clear narratives. The first, and most sporting, is this is Australia’s final scheduled warm-up fixture before January’s Asian Cup. After selecting his best XI on Saturday against South Korea, Graham Arnold is expected to shuffle his pack a bit more and cast his eye over some fringe selections before naming his squad for the UAE.
Tom Rogic and Robbie Kruse have been given the night off meaning there’ll be at least two new starters. Rogic’s place is surely under no threat but if Kruse’s understudy catches the eye they could well force their way into contention for a starting berth. Awer Mabil has impressed in the past two friendlies, and Martin Boyle looked lively on debut while even Craig Goodwin comes into the reckoning tonight. Then there’s the issue of who plays up front, which brings us on to...
The second major talking point - the farewell cap afforded to Tim Cahill, Australia’s record goalscorer. How much time the veteran receives on the pitch and how much impact he has remains to be seen, but it is a warm gesture to hand the greatest Socceroo a moment of acknowledgement. (We can get into a debate about the merits of these farewell appearances later - I don’t have a strong opinion on the matter, and I certainly don’t object to a special case being made for a player of Cahill’s contribution.)
There’s plenty to chat about if you want to get in touch: the Asian Cup squad, Arnie’s tactics, Cahill, the FFA AGM, and much more besides. To have your say please send tweets to @JPHowcroft and emails to jonathan.howcroft.freelance@theguardian.com.
