Key events
32 min “When will be ever see some trickery from the Roos?” weeps Martin Turnbull. “Indonesia are far better technically, so far.”
The thing that stands out is the speed of their attacking compared to Australia’s. I don’t really understand why the Aussies are so one-paced because they have some good players.
31 min In other news, because the square root of bugger all is happening in this game, England have followed West Indies by pulling off an astounding Test victory.
28 min Australia have had 54 per cent possession, and as I type they are keeping the ball in the middle third. Let’s take the positives: they’re winning.
25 min Australia’s attacking play has again been very ponderous. Maybe a tougher challenge in the quarter-final will get them going, assuming they win today, but something doesn’t feel right.
23 min After some nice, quick football from Indonesia, Hubner’s long-range shot is comfortably held by Ryan.
22 min Indonesia try a funky training-ground free-kick and make a Horlicks of it.
21 min There’s no sign of Australia going for the throat, at least not yet. Struick is shoved over by Rowles, just outside the area on the right…
17 min A long ball forward is left by a defender, Souttar I think, almost allowing Sayuri a chance. He just can’t reach the ball and Ryan claims.
15 min Fornaroli tries a scissor kick but instead boots the defender Mangkualam, who got in front to head the ball away. Fornaroli is booked.
Yes, it’s definitely an own goal. Irvine collected a loose ball on the right side of the area and curled a cross that took a huge deflection off Elkan Baggott before beating Ari at the near post. A total fluke, but Australia won’t mind.
GOAL! Australia 1-0 Indonesia (Baggott og 12)
Jackson Irvine is celebrated but I think this is an own goal from Ethan Baggott.
9 min Indonesia have started very perkily, with no sign of them parking the bus. I listed their formation as 5-2-2-1 but at the moment it’s much closer to 3-4-2-1.
6 min: Chance for Indonesia! Marcelino touches the ball back to Hubner, whose cross is flicked over at the near post by Struick. He just tried to help the ball on as it bounced across him, and for a split-second it looked like it might drop into the goal. Instead it rippled the roof of the net.
3 min Early pressure from Australia. Irvine finds space in the area but overhits his cross towards Boyle at the far post; then Bos’s cross is booted away at the near post.
1 min Peep peep! Indonesia kick off from left to right as we watch. It looks a lovely day in Doha, warm but with a cooling breeze.
Ten minutes to kick off. Let’s have a reminder of the teams.
Australia (4-1-2-3) Ryan; Jones, Souttar, Rowles, Behich; Baccus; McGree, Irvine; Boyle, Fornaroli, Bos.
Substitutes: Atkinson, Silvera, Metcalfe, Yengi, Tilio, Thomas, O’Neill, Duke, Gauci, Burgess, Goodwin, Iredale.
Indonesia (5-2-2-1) Ari; Pattynama, Baggott, Amat, Walsh, Mangkualam; Jenner, Hubner; Sayuri, Marselino; Struick.
Substitutes: Riyandi, Ridho, Sulaeman, Drajad, Vikri, Arhan, Kambuaya, Caraka, Alis, Prasetyo, Klok, Argawinata.
“I know you’ve been enjoying the Socceroos’ waltz through the group stages looking every bit the Brazil ‘82 reboot we all knew they could be,” says Chris Paraskevas. “Whack a white bandana on Jackson Irvine and you’ve basically got Socrates reincarnate.
“It’ll be interesting to see how Bruno Fornaroli holds up tonight. He’s kept in very good shape throughout his A-League career and deserves to start in an important game for the Socceroos – but I just wonder whether Arnie might have liked to have Jamie Maclaren amongst his subtitutes tonight…”
“All due respect, if we can’t beat Indonesia it will be a national embarrassment,” says James Paraskevas. “We should be winning this game comfortably – at least 3-0.”
All doo respect. (NB: Clip contains lots of adult language.)
This is the first knockout game at this year’s tournament. John Duerden previews the round of 16.
Indonesia team news
Three changes from the defeat to Japan on Wednesday. Elkan Baggott, Asnawi Mangkualam and Shayne Pattynama replace Rizky Ridho, Egy Maulana Vikri and Pratama Arhan.
Indonesia (5-2-2-1) Ari; Pattynama, Baggott, Amat, Walsh, Mangkualam; Jenner, Hubner; Sayuri, Marselino; Struick.
Substitutes: Riyandi, Ridho, Sulaeman, Drajad, Vikri, Arhan, Kambuaya, Caraka, Alis, Prasetyo, Klok, Argawinata.
Socceroos team news: Fornaroli starts
Graham Arnold makes two changes from the draw against Uzbekistan. Bruno Fornaroli replaces Kusini Yengi up front, and Gethin Jones comes in at right-back for Nathaniel Atkinson.
Joey Lynch’s preview
Even if Australia do win comfortably, they could do with a more convincing attacking performance. In this tournament they have struggled against a low block.
Preamble
Hello and welcome to live coverage of Australia v Complaency in the last 16 of the Asian Cup. Everyone expects the the Socceroos to beat Indonesia, the tournament outsiders who are ranked 146th in the world, and thes biggest danger is that their subconscious agrees with that assessment.
Look, they should win. They almost certainly will win. But this afternoon’s events at the Gabba are a reminder that, even with the inequality of modern sport, David can still sink a stone deep into Goliath’s noggin.
Kick off is at 2.30pm in Doha / 10.30pm AEDT. The winners will play Saudi Arabia or South Korea in the quarter-final on Friday.
