A Good-Win
For the first time in seven years, the Socceroos returned to South Australia. No one was more excited than SA’s own Craig Goodwin. Man of the match in Australia’s 3-1 win, Goodwin’s 52nd minute goal was the difference as Australia claimed a crucial three points.
Australia began the match with an emphasis on maintaining possession. Plenty of half chances were created outside the penalty box as a result of time in possession. The first real chance for the Socceroos came at the 17th minute mark with a long range Duke chance flying just over the crossbar.
After not having much of the ball early, China were the first to score with a counterattack which resulted in Xie Wenneng driving the ball into the bottom left corner in a decisive manner.
From there China, gained some ascendancy and put the Socceroos on the back foot. The physically ramped up from the China side, resulting in a challenge that saw Aziz Behich going down in the 30th minute. Another challenge saw Li Lei of China earn a yellow card.
As half time closed in, Australia desperately needed a foothold in the match. Former Adelaide United star Craig Goodwin took the free kick from just outside the box on the Eastern side of the ground. He put the ball inside the box and it fell the way of Lewis Miller who finished the work, putting it past the Chinese goalkeeper, Dalei Wang.
Coming out of the main break, the Socceroos simply went to another level;
From stage left, Craig Goodwin stepped into the spotlight. His goal sent Adelaide Oval into a rapture seen so many times before at Hindmarsh.
His left foot unloaded an absolute missile from well outside the ‘D’ to secure the Socceroos’ second goal of the match.
A diving effort from Dalei Wang wasn’t enough as the net bulged and the crowd erupted.
Tony Popovic’s reaction said it all: a double fist pump as the pressure visibly lifted off the ex-Victory boss.
Moments after Goodwin’s rocket, it was Jason Geria who headed the ball just across goal. Riley McGree was next up, as the Socceroos pushed for an all-important third goal.
In the 66th minute, Mitchell Duke went down under a Wang Shangyuan challenge. China’s number six was rewarded with a yellow card.
Tony Popovic turned to his ex-Victory charges when Nishan Velupillay entered the game on debut in the 83rd minute.
Velupillay replaced a impressive Mitchell Duke, as the Aussies were well on the way to winning the match.
Velupillay scored on debut when the ball fell to him in the box and he put it into the top corner.
Australia now face Japan in Japan on Tuesday, while China return home to face Indonesia.
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