WATCH: CommBank Socceroos retain Soccer Ashes with 3-1 victory over New Zealand
The CommBank Socceroos have retained the Soccer Ashes after a convincing 3-1 victory over New Zealand in Auckland on Tuesday evening.
Mohamed Toure scored the first two goals of his international career, both assisted by midfielder Connor Metcalfe, while Nestory Irankunda scored one of his own in an energetic performance from Australia.
It concludes this year’s Soccer Ashes, with the Socceroos winning 4-1 on aggregate across the two legs.
Head Coach Tony Popovic made six changes to the starting line-up from the team that defeated the All Whites in Canberra. Goalscorer Max Balard earned his first start after scoring the winner in that game, while Nestory Irankunda, Mohamed Toure, Aiden O’Neill, Lewis Miller and Kye Rowles made up the other changes.
21-year-old Alessandro Circati took the captain’s armband for the first time in his senior international career in an endorsement of his budding leadership abilities.
New Zealand started strong in front of their home fans. Premier League striker Chris Wood was once again busy, and Ben Old added speed and flair to their attack.
Paul Izzo was called into action on a few occasions, including in the 27th minute when Wood was found in the box – but the Kiwi star was unable to find a way past Australia’s keeper.
Kye Rowles came close to breaking the deadlock in the 33rd minute, forcing a wonderful save from Max Crocombe in the All Whites goal from a header after a pinpoint ball in from Lewis Miller.
It was barely a minute later when Australia took the lead. Connor Metcalfe found Mohamed Toure with an incisive pass through the centre of midfield. Toure muscled his way past the Kiwi defence to find himself one-on-one with Crocombe, and made no mistake, with his low finish opening his international account in his fourth appearance.
The home side pushed to find an equaliser before the break. A deflection off Aiden O’Neill crashed into the crossbar, and came to an onrushing Tim Payne. His header looked like it was looping into goal before a miraculous save from a backtracking Izzo kept the clean sheet and retained Australia’s lead at half-time.
There were no changes for either side at the start of the second half and Izzo was once again forced into a diving save early, this time denying Ryan Thomas from outside the penalty area.
Australia’s lead was doubled ten minutes into the half. Nestory Irankunda thwarted the Kiwi defence with a tricky step-over and finished well from close range to score his second international goal in his seventh appearance.
New Zealand’s goal drought against Australia was finally broken in the 57th minute. A ball from the left found Chris Wood in the penalty area who was able to find the back of the net from close range, and get a goal back for the home side. It was the first goal that the All Whites have scored against the Socceroos since 2010.
It didn’t take long for Australia's two-goal advantage to be restored, however. Mo Toure was teed up by Metcalfe on the edge of the penalty area for the second time in the match. Toure’s touch took him around Finn Surman and, once again, the 21-year-old finished well, this time on his left foot.
Toure thought he had a first international hat-trick soon after, but the goal was ruled out after video review due to an offside in the build-up.
The first Australian changes came midway through the half. Jordy Bos and Patrick Yazbek entered the fray, replacing Lewis Miller and Max Balard.
VAR intervened once more in the 73rd minute, with a red card initially shown to All Whites defender Tyler Bindon for a challenge on Irankunda rescinded and downgraded to a yellow card.
Toure was withdrawn with 15 minutes of regulation time remaining after an eye-catching overall performance. Martin Boyle came in to replace him.
Irankunda came inches away from his second goal late in the match. A free-kick from outside the penalty area thundered against the underside of the crossbar before being cleared by the Kiwi defence.
Popovic made a triple substitution in the final stages of the match. Nicolas Milanovic, Ajdin Hrustic and Joe Gauci came into the game, replacing Irankunda, Metcalfe and Izzo. The changes did not disrupt the Socceroos' rhythm, however, and they were able to maintain their two-goal lead to the end.
Australia’a 3-1 victory meant that they retained the Soccer Ashes and will take a lot of confidence from this friendly series into their ongoing preparations for the FIFA World Cup 26™.
Match Summary
Australia: 3 (Toure 35’, 60’, Irankunda 54’)
New Zealand: 1 (Wood 57’)
Australia: 12. Paul Izzo (GK) (18. Joe Gauci 86’), 2. Milos Degenek, 3. Lewis Miller (5. Jordan Bos 64’), 4. Kye Rowles, 8. Connor Metcalfe (Ajdin Hrustic 86’), 9. Mohamed Toure (6. Martin Boyle 75’), 13. Aiden O’Neill, 14. Nestory Irankunda (7. Nicolas Milanovic 86’), 16. Max Balard (19. Patrick Yazbek 64’), 21. Cameron Burgess, 23. Alessandro Circati (C)
Unused Substitutes: 1. Tom Glover (GK), 15. Noah Botic, 17. Ryan Teague, 20. Samuel Silvera, 24. Anthony Kalik, 25. Hayden Matthews
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil
New Zealand: 1. Max Crocombe, 2. Tim Payne (21. Callan Elliot 67’), 3. Francis De Vries (15. James McGarry 79’), 4. Tyler Bindon, 6. Joe Bell, 9. Chris Wood (7. Jesse Randall 67’), 10. Sarpreet Singh (24. Luke Brooke-Smith 79’), 11. Elijah Just, 14. Finn Surman, 19. Ben Old (18. Logan Rogerson 67’), 23. Ryan Thomas (20. Callum McCowatt 67’)
Unused Substitutes: 7. Jesse Randall, 12. Henry Merson Leonard Gray, 18. Logan Rogerson, 22. Oli Sail, 24. Luke Brooke-Smith 5. Michael Boxall
Yellow Cards: 4. Tyler Bindon 74’, 3. Francis De Vries 79’
Red Cards: Nil