Take a look at our newest merchandise
Key occasions
51 minutes: Calvin Verdonk ends the lengthy wait to take the free kick and its nothing however an anti-climax has he slams the shot into the wall. Nook for Indonesia.
49 minutes: An innocuous bomb ahead earns a free kick for Indonesia simply outdoors the field. Cam Burgess was leaning over Ole Romenij however the Indonesian attacker appeared to instigate all of the contact.
47 minutes: Australia have swung a few adjustments to their assault with Craig Goodwin and Brandon Borrello getting into the fray as Martin Boyle and Adam Taggart make manner.
46 minutes: The second half will get beneath manner and simply as they did about an hour in the past Indonesia are instantly on the assault.
Australia have constructed their 3-0 lead off the again of their solely three pictures on aim, whereas Indonesia have had a few pictures with one heading in the right direction. Indonesia have maybe performed into the Socceroos’ fingers by having 59% possession and giving the hosts area to run into.
Half-time: Australia 3-0 Indonesia
The Socceroos head down the tunnel in charge of the sport at 3-0 however there was a lot much less between the 2 groups than that rating suggests. Indonesia made the early operating and may need opened the scoring however for a pointy save from Maty Ryan and a mis-fired spot kick from Kevin Diks. Australia went on to make Indonesia pay an enormous worth for these missed alternatives as Martin Boyle nailed his personal penalty after a sloppy free kick on Lewis Miller off a nook.
Younger Socceroos attacker Nishan Velupillay then silenced any doubters over his place within the facet as he ran clear and onto an extended go from Adam Taggart to chip over keeper Paes beneath little stress. Velupillay quickly turned supplier with a slicing run that ended with the ball at Jackson Irvine’s toes not as soon as however twice, because the midfielder prolonged the lead. We’ll be again shortly to learn how Indonesia reply.
48 minutes: A bit extra grappling creeps into the competition with the gamers slowing down as we edge in the direction of half-time. We’re but to see a warning although.
46 minutes: Six minutes of added time appears beneficiant with few breaks apart from to get second opinions for a pair of penalty calls. No complaints right here although!
44 minutes: Indonesia proceed to work away on the left with hints of success. The guests choose up one other nook however Mees Hilgers’ header floats excessive for a aim kick.
42 minutes: The third Australia aim has taken a little bit of sting out of the sport because the break approaches. That’s no less than till Romenij virtually creates one thing out of nothing as he will get off a shot that Geria solely simply will get a foot on.
40 minutes: This contest has turned Australia’s manner as a strong problem from Irvine outdoors their defensive penalty field is waved away as the house facet clear.
38 minutes: Indonesia maintain pushing ahead however the danger of leaving the again door open stays as Taggart virtually finds a manner by means of on the midway line.
36 minutes: Australia have been completely satisfied to play with out the ball however have pulled away to a commanding lead. The second goalscorer, Nishan Velupillay, has one other shot however a deflection takes it large for a nook.
GOAL! Australia 3-0 Indonesia (Irvine 34)
Jackson Irvine finishes a intelligent transfer from the Socceroos on the second try. Intricate passing on the prime of the field finally ends up with Martin Boyle on the suitable however his speculative cross seems to have wasted the chance till a deflection takes the ball to Irvine standing on prime of the spot. A implausible save from Paes retains out the primary strike, however the rebound finally ends up with Irvine to hammer dwelling.
32 minutes: The Socceroos are trying extra snug on the again now after being overwhelmed within the opening 10 minutes.
30 minutes: Ole Romenij wins a race to the ball down the left however his cross in the direction of Indonesia and Brisbane Roar attacker Rafael Struick making his manner into the field is minimize off by Kye Rowles.
28 minutes: Indonesia are completely satisfied to knock the ball across the again however keeper Paes places hearts in mouths as a pause on the ball virtually permits Taggart to shut him down.
26 minutes: A second of serenity as Indonesia lastly settle for it’s of their pursuits to gradual the sport down a bit.
24 minutes: A defensive error from Kevin Diks virtually items Aziz Behich with a shot on aim. The Indonesia defender seems to move again to his keeper from outdoors the penalty field however the ball falls nicely quick. Behich may need tried his luck on the volley earlier than Diks tidies up his mess with a greater header to Paes.
22 minutes: Indonesia are displaying few indicators of getting simply given up two targets as they proceed to assault. The ball bounces from one finish to the opposite and again once more. This has been a chaotically sensible opening.
GOAL! Australia 2-0 Indonesia (Velupillay, 20)
What a turnaround! Two targets in as many minutes as Adam Taggart wins the ball again for the Socceroos and releases Nishan Velupillay charging by means of the center all on his personal. The Melbourne Victory attacker knocks the ball over advancing Indonesia keeper Maarten Paes to present Australia a all of the sudden robust benefit.
GOAL! Australia 1-0 Indonesia (Boyle, 18)
Martin Boyle steps as much as the spot and casually slams the ball into the underside left nook. That’ll be an enormous reduction for Australia after the blazing begin from Indonesia.
15 minutes: Whereas the Socceross put together to take a nook following Boyle’s strike, the sport has paused and the referee is known as to evaluate the tussle between Miller and Nathan Tjoe A On. Penalty to Australia!
14 minutes: A primary nook for the Socceroos who’re lastly settling into the competition. Martin Boyle crosses the ball in earlier than Lewis Miller is wrapped up and brought to floor. Indonesia clear with a header however Boyle quickly has possession once more and his deflected shot sails simply large of the far put up.
12 minutes: The Socceroos spend a while of their attacking half with out threatening the penalty field. Indonesia play out comfortably and all however bypass the midfield with an beautiful crossfield go.
10 minutes: It has been a scintillating begin from Indonesia however Diks’ missed penalty means the guests have did not take a deserved lead. Australia have to get a foothold within the recreation earlier than it will get away from them.
Diks misses from the spot!
8 minutes: Kevin Diks hits the put up! The penalty kick was hammered to the left of Maty Ryan however Diks fails to transform.
Penalty to Indonesia!
7 minutes: Rafael Struick learn an extended ball higher than Cam Burgess, Kye Rowles comes throughout to cowl and swings a leg. There may be hardly a contact on the striker’s leg however VAR clears the choice.
5 minutes: Incredible save from Maty Ryan! And a warning shot for the Socceroos. Nishan Velupillay offers away a useless free kick in Indonesia’s attacking half, Calvin Verdonk whips within the cross and their captain Jay Noah Idzes virtually glances a header into the online.
3 minutes: The Socceroos have their first lookup entrance as Ole Lennard Romenij, in any other case of Oxford United, wins the ball in a troublesome problem and tries to launch Indonesia down the left. The tempo of Jason Geria covers any hazard.
1 min: Indonesia kick off and shortly discover on the suitable in area Ole Lennard Romenij.
The gamers are in place and right here we go … peeeeep!
Now it’s the native facet’s flip for a singalong as Advance Australia Honest is belted out each on the pitch and within the stands. Can already really feel power coming from the stands with a good end up of punters.
The guests’ nationwide anthem, Indonesia Raya (which roughly interprets as Indonesia the Nice) takes over Sydney Soccer Stadium as one finish is filled with a sea of crimson and extra shirts of the identical hue are dotted across the floor.
Andy de la Rue has kindly jogged my memory {that a} climate forecast is known as for. Within the tried and true methodology of popping a head out the window at Sydney Soccer Stadium, and peeping by means of the haze of fireworks smoke, I can verify the sky is obvious because the temperature hovers across the mid 20s.
Good circumstances for soccer, actually.
The Socceroos and Indonesia are moments away from making their manner onto the pitch at Sydney Soccer Stadium with kick-off scheduled for 8.10pm. Simply sufficient time to make amends for the qualification state of play throughout all of the areas for the 48 spots on the 2026 World Cup.
Indonesia’s main naturalisation program has lifted their high quality and choices throughout the pitch and is no less than partly behind solely 5 starters from their earlier conflict with Australia returning to the XI for coach Patrick Kluivert’s first match in cost. Marselino Ferdinan would be the solely Indonesian-born participant within the beginning XI, whereas the Socceroos have their very own import in Martin Boyle.
John Duerden says {that a} extra aggressive and expansive Indonesia may very well be a lift for Australia on as a lot as off the pitch.
For event regulars Australia, a house defeat to Indonesia could be painful however, no less than, sign that the 2 neighbours can push one another to better heights. As a substitute of seeking to a rustic on the other finish of a mighty ocean, there could be one simply the opposite facet of the Timor Sea.
Indonesia XI
Indonesia look set to line up in a 3-5-2 formation with their midfield filled with defensive muscle.
Maarten Vincent Paes; Calvin Verdonk, Dean James, Nathan Tjoe A On; Mees Hilgers, Thom Jan Haye, Marselino Ferdinan, Kevin Diks, Jay Noah Idzes (capt); Rafael William Struick, Ole Lennard Romenij.
Australia XI
Tony Popovic made an enormous name in leaving ahead Mitchell Duke out of the squad and has made a good larger name in leaving pacey attacker Craig Goodwin out of the beginning lineup with Martin Boyle to play in his place in a 5-2-3. Maty Ryan is again in aim and can put on the captain’s armband.
Maty Ryan (capt); Lewis Miller, Jason Geria, Cameron Burgess, Kye Rowles, Aziz Behich; Jackson Irvine, Aiden O’Neill; Nishan Velupillay, Adam Taggart, Martin Boyle.
Coach Tony Popovic gained’t be letting any complacency creep into his Socceroos facet in opposition to Indonesia particularly with the race for a spot on the 2026 World Cup so tight and tense and the neighbouring nation evidently on the rise.
The expectation of the Australian public, is that they need to anticipate their nationwide group to provide and to play good soccer. Then I anticipate each Australian to get behind the group tomorrow, which is what we wish and we all know that that’ll assist us tomorrow night time.
Preamble
Martin Pegan
Good day and welcome to dwell protection of the 2026 World Cup qualifier between Australia and Indonesia at Sydney Soccer Stadium (identified to most in these components as Allianz Stadium). The Socceroos are out to tighten their reasonably free grip on second place in Group C of Asian qualification and edge nearer to a spot at subsequent 12 months’s showpiece occasion within the US, Mexico and Canada.
Coach Tony Popovic’s facet presently sit within the vital second place within the group that can in brief time robotically qualify for the World Cup. However the margins might hardly be finer with Australia on seven factors from six matches, whereas tonight’s opponents Indonesia, in addition to Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and China are only one level behind within the five-way battle for what has turn into a single prized spot. Tearaway leaders Japan are already on 16 factors and all however assured of taking the opposite spot and will even guide their ticket to North America with a win at dwelling in opposition to Bahrain tonight or if different outcomes merely fall their manner. With Saudi Arabia internet hosting China within the group’s different conflict within the wee hours of tomorrow morning (AEDT), Australia want a optimistic end in Sydney to on the very least maintain their hopes in their very own fingers.
Indonesia efficiently annoyed Australia with a decided, low block when these two sides final met within the second batch of Group C matches final September, holding the six-time World Cup qualifiers to a 0-0 attract what proved to be coach Graham Arnold’s final match in cost. Popovic took the Socceroos’ reins simply days later and first led the group to win at dwelling over China and a gallant attract Japan, earlier than much less spectacular performances in attracts with Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. That’s the state of play in Group C as we enter basic “must-win” areas which ought to be greater than sufficient to make sure a tense, cagey contest.
Kick-off is at 8.10pm AEDT. I’ll be again shortly with the line-ups and group information.
Bear in mind to get in contact with any feedback, questions, ideas and predictions. You may shoot me an e-mail, or discover me on X @martinpegan and Bluesky @martinpegan.bsky.social. Let’s get into it!
IT’S MATCHDAY IN SYDNEY! 🙌
🆚: Indonesia 🇮🇩
⏰: 8:00pm AEDT
🏟️: Sydney Soccer Stadium
📱💻📺: Dwell on 10, Paramount+, 10 Play
📻: ABC Radio by way of the ABC Pay attention App#Socceroos #FeelNewSydney— Subway Socceroos (@Socceroos) March 19, 2025
![[2024] MSI Aegis R2 C14NUF9-829US (Intel Core i9-14900F, 128GB DDR5 RAM, 2X 2TB NVMe SSD, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti Super, Windows 11) Gaming Desktop PC](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81i1KVslX4L._AC_SL1500_.jpg)
