The Socceroos have played out a 2-2 draw with Mexico, leading by two goals before a pair of defensive errors gifted Mexico two second-half strikes in a dramatic friendly in Dallas.
Australian centre-back Harry Souttar struck with a glancing header from a Martin Boyle corner in the 16th minute, with the Socceroos impressing with their counter-attacking in the first half.
But the match lifted in intensity after the half-time break, with Mexico pouring forward and winning a penalty ten minutes after the interval – only to hit the post with the effort from 12 yards.
The Socceroos won a penalty of their own after an hour when Riley McGree darted between two defenders into the box and was scythed down, with Martin Boyle converting for a two-goal lead.
But Mexico roared back into the game through a successful Raul Jimenez penalty of their own after Socceroos debutant Cameron Burgess pushed a rival in the box.
Then Souttar went from hero to zero with a calamitous mistake in the 84th minute, leaving a long ball in a miscommunication with goalkeeper Maty Ryan, which bounced in the box and allowed a second Mexico substitute, Cesar Huerta, to score the equaliser.
And Australia’s disastrous second half was further soured by two injuries – with Mitch Duke substituted with a hamstring niggle before Jackson Irvine was stretchered off with an ankle injury.
The 2026 World Cup is being held in Mexico, the United States and Canada – with this match
against the world’s 12th-ranked team an early opportunity for Australia to accustom themselves to playing in North America.
The clash was an valuable opportunity for a fresh-faced Socceroos side to gel ahead of the start of World Cup qualifying in November, with the Asian Cup a key priority in Qatar in January.
Following Aaron Mooy’s retirement, it was a crucial chance for Graham Arnold to test his midfield combinations, while he also handed a starting debut Cameron Burgess in the centre of defence alongside Harry Souttar.
Souttar is out of favour at English Championship side Leicester City, but the towering centre-back opened the scoring for Australia with a glancing header into the bottom corner from a Martin Boyle corner.
The goal – Souttar’s seventh in 17 Socceroos appearances – came in the 16th minute after a scrappy start on an extremely poor artificial pitch at AT&T Stadium, home of NFL side the Dallas Cowboys.
It followed coach Graham Arnold yesterday speaking about Souttar’s difficult club situation, having not played in almost four months.
Arnold said: “My message to him is simple and that is, this is your stage. This is your opportunity to show your coach at Leicester and ask the question why you’re not playing, and show the fans how good you really are.
“He’s got to use that as motivation to go out there tomorrow and show everyone that’s watching this game who Harry Souttar is.”
After losing possession repeatedly as they struggled to come to terms in the opening minutes with the watered artificial pitch, the Socceroos settled after the opening ten minutes and began to wrestle their way into the match.
They began to stretch and strain the Mexico defence, particularly on the counter-attack – with Mexico dominating possession but the Socceroos turning the ball over and flooding forward at pace.
Jackson Irvine was particularly exceptional in both turning the ball over in midfield and distributing it forward, linking well with Keanu Baccus in the heart of the park.`
Australia continued to pressure the Mexican defence in the first half-hour, with Irvine nearly finding Martin Boyle at the back post with a cross that was just inches over the head of the pacy winger – the Socceroos best chance besides the goal.
Despite the weight of possession, Mexico struggled to create strong chances in front of goal, with their first shot on target coming in the 36th minute after a neat back-heel pass into the box saw a first-time shot lashed towards Australian captain Mat Ryan.
Pressure was building on the Socceroos, with Mexico repeatedly bombing the ball into the box from wide areas and racking up corners, forcing the Socceroos to defend with their backs against the wall.
In the 43rd minute, there was a scary moment for the Australian defence as the ball bounced down in the area after a cross was whipped in from the right. Right-back Nathaniel Atkinson was forced to scramble as a Mexico striker raced towards the ball, but managed to get a toe to the ball with a desperate lunging tackle which also collected his opponent, sparking calls for a penalty which were waved away by the referee.
Veteran striker Mitch Duke received a booking in the 46th minute for a high boot which sparked a push-and-shove with defender Edson Alvarez as tension rose, with the pair again butting heads as they marched off the field for half-time.
Mexico emerged from half-time with renewed intensity, and their pressure finally told on the Socceroos defence when Mexico won a penalty in the 54th minute for a handball from Keanu Baccus.
But Santiago Gimenez slammed his shot into the left post, handing the Socceroos a major reprieve.
And the Socceroos won a penalty of their own after the hour mark when Riley McGree darted between a pair of defenders Luis Romo and Julian Araujo and was taken out by both players as he raced into the box.
Martin Boyle stepped up – after some mind-games from the Mexican keeper Guillermo Ochoa – and slammed his shot into the back of the net.
It was his first international goal since October 2021 against Oman, in his first match since the World Cup play-off against Peru last year.
Both sides turned to the bench, with Arnold sending on Denis Genreau and Nick D’Agostino for Connor Metcalfe and Mitch Duke, the latter appearing to suffer a hamstring issue.
But the match turned on its head once again with a THIRD penalty of the match – and a second for Mexico.
It came in the 69th minute, just six minutes after Boyle had lashed his shot home, with Cameron Burgess on debut shoving opponent Uriel Antuna in the back as they raced to get on the end of a long ball into the Australian box – one that Maty Ryan should probably have claimed.
Veteran striker Raul Jimenez of Fulham calmly converted from the spot, having come off the bench in the second period.
Australia responded by bringing on Middlesbrough’s Sam Silvera for his debut off the bench, replacing Martin Boyle.
But Mexico desperately chased an equaliser, but the Socceroos defended grimly – only for an absolute disaster at the back to see the scores levelled in the 84th minute.
Mexico launched another long ball over the back line, which appeared a routine one for Harry Souttar to head clear. But at the last minute, he ducked underneath the ball, seemingly in an attempt to let Maty Ryan claim it.
But the ball bounced and Cesar Huerta snuck in between the two Australian players to slam the ball into the net.
Australia suffered another blow when Jackson Irvine badly rolled his ankle in a tackle, forcing the star man to be stretchered from the field.
Keanu Baccus was replaced by Milos Degenek, with Aiden O’Neill replacing Irvine.
Mexico looked dominant as the match wore down, with Australia increasingly nervous at the back – having appeared comfortable in defence for almost the entire match.
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Mitch Duke leads the line.
Defender Kye Rowles is being tested at left-back instead of his usual central position, which opens up a spot for Burgess to partner Souttar in the heart of the backline – with the pair 194cm and 198cm respectively. Nathaniel Atkinson features at right back.
Martin Boyle is back on the right flank after missing the World Cup in Qatar due to an ACL injury, with Riley McGree on the left side given Mat Leckie suffered an injury in training in the lead-up to the match.
Silvera set to make Socceroos debut | 01:09
And in the midfield, the team features Keanu Baccus, Jackson Irvine and Connor Metcalfe in a new-look trio following the retirement of Aaron Mooy.
Captain Mat Ryan maintains his spot between the sticks.
On the bench, Samuel Silvera is expected to make his debut later in the match.
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