The Socceroos have suffered a 2-0 loss to Jordan in an unexpected World Cup qualifier upset in Amman overnight, after a penalty and last minute goal soared the 99th-ranked Jordan to victory over 58th-ranked Australia.
The victory for Jordan is a blow to Australia’s World Cup efforts – as Jordan now sits one point ahead in Group B, with 10 points over our 9.
Australia’s qualifying matches, up until this point, have been relatively cruisey – securing victories over Bangladesh, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan and dominating Group B.
This morning’s meeting with Jordan, however, proved to be the ‘roos undoing – the early penalty for Jordan kept Australia behind and searching for an equaliser for 84 minutes—chucking in Cahill at minute 66—before Jordan’s Hamza Al-Dardour leapt past Australia’s weak defence and rocketing the board to 2-0.
FULL TIME | The @Socceroos fall to a disappointing 2-0 defeat to Jordan. #GoSocceroos #JORvAUS
— Socceroos (@Socceroos) October 8, 2015
In a post-match interview, Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou admitted that the Socceroos “lost control” over the game against Jordan, saying the opening goal was a crucial blow: “When you come to a place like this, the first goal becomes critical. And you can’t get any flow in the game after that. And it gets frustrating for the players.”
The Socceroos will have a chance to prove their bacon on home soil next month, as Australia faces off against Kyrgyzstan on November 12 in Canberra.
via The Guardian.
Lead image by Sarah Malkawi via Getty.
