The Socceroos are off to Brazil for the 2014 World Cup after a 1-1 draw against a depleted South Africa in front of 50,459 at ANZ Stadium on Monday night.
Australia’s final international friendly on home soil got off to a ferocious start, but it was the visitors who struck first courtesy of a breaking Ayanda Patosi, who caught the Socceroos off-guard to score in the 13th minute. Amazingly, veteran Tim Cahill converted a trademark header just a minute later to equalise.
The far from full-strength South Africans exposed the Socceroos defence on occasion with lightning pace, but managed just one on target shot on goal to the Socceroos’ seven. Cahill’s header came off a cross from Tommy Oar, but the inaccurate Socceroos failed to capitalise on their 16 shots, double that of the visitors’ total. Among the worst of the misses was a second goal Cahill should have added shortly after the first when Oar found him on the edge of the box, but a brilliant save from keeper Senzo Meyiwa ensured scores remained level.
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“South Africa was a good tough team tonight. We had a lot of chances today but the ball just wouldn’t go in, and we’ll work harder on that for our first game against Chile,” forward Matthew Leckie told ABC’s Grandstand.
“I think it’s nice if you’ve always got the ball and dominating, it’s always better in an attacking sense. Hopefully we can take that into the World Cup, try to get the ball a lot and create a lot of chances.”
Coming off a two-week camp in the lead-up to the friendly, the Socceroos have a bit to think about before flying to Brazil later in the week, predominantly yet another injury, this time to right-back Ivan Franjic. Australia’s Group B competitors include Spain, the Netherlands and Chile.
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Photo: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images
