The CommBank Socceroos travel to Auckland to take on New Zealand at Go Media Stadium in the second leg of the 2025 Soccer Ashes.
Australia takes a one-goal advantage into the second leg, after debutant Max Balard's strike helped Tony Popovic's men to a 1-0 victory in Canberra on Friday evening.
The Soccer Ashes is a trophy contested over two legs, with the winner being determined by the aggregate score over both games. If the scores are level at the end of the second leg, the trophy will be decided by a penalty shootout.
The last time that New Zealand won the Soccer Ashes was all the way back in 1923. If Australia avoid defeat in Auckland, they will retain the trophy once more.
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Last Time Out
Friday night in Canberra was a hotly contested clash that could have gone either way. It was a night of memorable debuts for the Socceroos, with the All Whites ruing their luck in front of goal.
The first half was a positive one for New Zealand. Premier League striker Chris Wood had a couple of promising opportunities to give his side the lead, only for debutant and Socceroos cap #650 Paul Izzo to stand tall for Australia, making two excellent saves from the Nottingham Forest striker.
The CommBank Socceroos got a grip on the game as it went on. Young substitutes Nestory Irankunda, Mo Toure and debutant Nicolas Milanovic all added an attacking spark to the side as the game began to open up.
It was the third debutant of the game, however, in Max Balard who proved the difference. The ball came to Balard in the penalty area after fantastic work from Toure. The Central Coast Mariners academy product slotted the goal home and ultimately won the game for Australia in the 87th minute, shortly after coming on for this debut.
Both sides will take positives from the game into the second leg.
The Opponent
The outlook across the ditch was generally a positive one after their narrow defeat.
“We played well. We know we played well... football is a game of moments, and we didn’t take our moments,” Head Coach Darren Bazeley told the media post-match.
“I think everybody saw the game — there’s enough in there to go, 'we’re heading in the right direction as a team,' you know, and there’s more to come from us as well.”
One of the highlights for the All Whites was the return of Ryan Thomas in midfield for the first time since 2019. However, the required squad management for the window was one of the reasons cited by Bazeley for the team's inability to get over the line.
Like Australia, New Zealand have one eye on preparations for the World Cup, but are expected to field another strong side at home as they attempt to secure that elusive victory over their Trans-Tasman rivals.
FIFA World Rankings
Australia: 24
New Zealand: 82
Head-to-Head ('A' Internationals)
Played: 66
Wins: 42
Draws: 11
Losses: 13
Insights
- New Zealand are seeking their first goal against Australia since 2010, when Chris Killen scored the first goal in a 2-1 defeat.
- Friday's game saw Australia's unbeaten run extend to ten games, and over 12 months. Tony Popovic is yet to taste defeat as Head Coach of the CommBank Socceroos.
- There were three debutants on Friday: Paul Izzo (#650), Nicolas Milanovic (#651) and Max Balard (#652). Five more CommBank Socceroos are eligible to make their debuts if they take the pitch in Auckland.
- After Balard's late winner in Canberra, he is the only member of Australia's current squad to have scored a goal against New Zealand in an 'A' International.
- No member of New Zealand's squad has scored against Australia in an 'A' International - the closest they have come is Chris Wood and Elijah Just both finding the back of the net in an U23 international fixture in 2021.
Australia form guide: W-W-W-W-W
New Zealand form guide: L-L-W-W-W
What They Said
Tony Popovic
It's a new challenge. A lot of new faces. It's the first time that these boys have experienced the travel, having to play soon after that, and then needing to back up. But we had a training session last night, and I was pleasantly surprised with how the players moved. They moved well, they look really positive, full of energy. So they look like they're really looking forward to this game.
We can only learn that by seeing them together. So unfortunately, we have limited time with these players. But the point of this exercise was to bring young, talented, potential players for the future and see where they fit in. We'll be happy either way - we have learned a lot about them, regardless of who gets minutes in this game.
MATCH DETAILS
New Zealand v CommBank Socceroos
Tuesday, 9 September
Go Media Stadium, Auckland
Kick-off: 7.00pm local / 5.00pm AEST
Broadcast: Paramount+