CommBank Socceroos suffer 1-0 defeat to Venezuela in Houston
Australia slipped to a second straight defeat in Houston, but a youthful squad featuring four debutants pushed Venezuela all the way in a tight contest settled by a single first-half strike.
Melbourne City goalkeeper Patrick Beach (Cap #654) shone on debut with a few brilliant saves early, supported by a couple of other new faces across the pitch, who handled the physical battle with composure.
Venezuela enjoyed their strongest spell before the break and made it count, yet Australia grew into the contest and finished with long stretches of control across the final half hour.
Australia started on the front foot, playing with a high defensive line that constantly pressed Venezuela’s deep shape.
In the fourth minute, the Socceroos nearly took the lead through Mo Toure. After beating his defender, the starting forward struck well from a narrow angle, but Venezuela goalkeeper Jose Contreras did well to deflect it wide.
The next big moment arrived in the 17th minute when Beach produced a world-class save to keep the scores level, setting the tone as the Socceroos looked to counter and squeeze in transition.
But in the 38th minute, Venezuela finally found a way through. Ender Echenique whipped a low ball across the face, and Jesus Ramirez tucked it away from close range.
The next ten minutes were filled with a flurry of physical defensive battles, and the Socceroos' back line, featuring fellow debutant Kai Trewin, was called into action with several last-ditch efforts to deny Venezuela a second.
Right before half-time, Jason Geria came off second best in a tackle and was forced off with an injury in the 43rd minute, replaced by Cam Burgess.
At the break, Craig Goodwin made way for Callum Elder, returning to the national team set-up for the first time since September 2021 against China.
The second half’s first moment came in the 48th minute as the substitute swung in a corner where Trewin rose highest but couldn’t finish.
From the 50th minute onwards, it was Venezuela who controlled the game and possession, testing Australia’s backline, surviving a pocket of great chances to double the scoring.
The 60th minute onwards belonged to the Green and Gold, with our next chance coming in the 63rd minute. It was Elder again, who swung a dangerous ball into the box and out for a corner.
With Martin Boyle and Riley McGree entering the field in the 66th minute, it was the Middlesbrough man who almost made an instant impact. His strike in the 70th was well stopped by the keeper from close range.
A period of quick feet for the South Americans followed, with McGree clearing the danger and drawing a yellow card for Telasco Segovia in the 71st.
The intensity remained high as Lewis Miller denied a near-certain second for the hosts moments later, throwing himself across the goal to knock the ball behind for a corner.
The Socceroos kept building, and in the 78th minute, Jackson Irvine was introduced alongside debutant Al Hassan Toure (Cap 657).
Toure made his presence felt almost immediately, firing his first shot in Green and Gold in the 82nd minute.
In the 87th minute, McGree picked him out again with a lofted pass over the top, but Toure’s driven effort was held by Venezuela’s goalkeeper, Contreras.
One minute later, McGree and Irvine combined at the edge of the area to win a free kick. Elder drilled the set piece low, but it ran straight to the keeper.
Three minutes of added time saw Australia win a flurry of attacking free kicks, yet none could produce the equaliser.
Despite a dominant finish to the game, the Socceroos couldn’t find a way through and now turn their attention to Colombia as this young group continues to build valuable experience.
Match Summary
Venezuela 1 (Ramirez 38’)
CommBank Socceroos 0
Venezuela: 12. Jose Contreras (GK), 2. Nahuel Ferraresi, 5. Teo Quintero, 6. Daniel Pereira, 7. Gleiker Mendoza (17. Matias Lacava 84’), 8. Cristian Casseres, 10. Telasco Segovia (23. Jose Chavez 84’), 11. Ender Echenique (18. David Martinez 78’), 13. Luis Balbo (14. Alessandro Milani 30’), 20. Ronald Hernandez, 21. Jesus Andres Ramirez Diaz (19. Kevin Kelsy 78’)
Unused substitutes: 1. Wuilker Farinez (GK), 22. Christopher Varela, 3. Yordan Osorio, 4. Adrian Cova, 9. Alejandro Marques, 15. Jorge Yriarte,16. Carlos Faya
Yellow Cards: 10. Telasco Segovia 72’
Australia: 18. Patrick Beach (GK), 2. Milos Degenek, 3. Lewis Miller, 7. Nestory Irankunda (11. Al Hassan Toure 78’), 8. Connor Metcalfe (14. Riley McGree 66’), 9. Mohamed Toure (6. Martin Boyle 66’), 13. Aiden O'Neill, 15. Kai Trewin, 19. Jason Geria (21. Cameron Burgess 43'), 20. Paul Okon-Engstler (22. Jackson Irvine 78'), 23. Craig Goodwin (5. Callum Elder 46')
Unused substitutes: 1. Maty Ryan (GK), 12. Paul Izzo (GK), 16. Max Balard, 17. Cameron Devlin, 24. James Overy, 25. Jack Iredale
Yellow cards: 7. Nestory Irankunda 37'
Shell Energy Stadium, Houston