The Socceroos can feel extremely hard done by as a momentary lapse in concentration cost them dearly in a 1-0 defeat to England at Wembley Stadium in London.
Ollie Watkins punished the Aussie backline who fell asleep at the wheel for a brief moment as he slid home to convert Jack Grealish’s driven ball across the face of goal in the 58th minute.
The Aston Villa star’s strike was a cruel blow for the Socceroos, who looked the more dangerous side despite England enjoying the lion’s share of possession.
With just over 10 minutes to go, Connor Metcalfe’s header smacked against the post from a Martin Boyle corner while Ryan Strain had an effort cleared off the line not long before half-time.
Keanu Baccus played a perfect long ball over the top which found Martin Boyle, who had drifted in from the right to take up a dangerous position in the middle.
Boyle turned on the ball and drove at the English backline before slipping in Strain, who had made a lung-bursting run up from right back.
However, Strain’s effort was cleared on the line by England centre-back Lewis Dunk as the Aussie sunk to his knees and held his head in his hands.
It was the best chance of the game as the two nations traded blows in an entertaining first half.
Baccus himself came close to opening the scoring when his long-range effort took a deflection and forced England goalkeeper Sam Johnstone to pull off a diving save to deny the St Mirren midfielder.
England themselves had a golden chance to open the scoring thanks to some tidy work down the right flank.
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Winger Jarrod Bowen had the ball and looked to drive at Australian left-back Kye Rowles, but he slipped in Connor Gallagher who had made a bursting run from midfield and had escaped his marker Jackson Irvine.
Gallagher squared a ball across the face of goal but England stiker Ollie Watkins couldn’t get his feet set as the ball rolled between his legs and out of harm’s way.
Watkins again had another gilt-edged chance to put England ahead when he was slipped through by James Maddison and rounded Mat Ryan, but he fired his effort wide from an open goal.
TEAM NEWS
England manager Gareth Southgate has fielded an experimental line-up, no surprise given they face Italy on Tuesday in a qualifier for next year’s European Championships, with a win guaranteeing England qualification.
Chelsea defender Levi Colwill starts at left-back for his debut, while just three England players have ten caps or more – Trent Alexander-Arnold, Jack Grealish and Jordan Henderson. In fact, just one England player – centre-back Lewis Dunk – also started their last match (a win over Scotland last month).
Australia has named a strong starting side, with Jackson Irvine recovering from an ankle injury suffered against Mexico last month to start.
Socceroos XI
4-3-3 (R-L): Maty Ryan; Ryan Strain, Harry Souttar, Cameron Burgess, Kye Rowles; Keanu Baccus, Jackson Irvine, Connor Metcalfe; Martin Boyle, Mitch Duke, Craig Goodwin
England XI
Sam Johnstone; Trent Alexander-Arnold, Levi Colwill, Connor Gallagher, Lewis Dunk; Fikayo Tomori, Jack Grealish, Jordan Henderson, Ollie Watkins, James Maddison, Jarrod Bowen
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