That’s all for today. Thanks a lot for your company – see you on Sunday for the real quiz.
The goalscorer Martin Boyle speaks
Our main objective was to finish top of the group and thankfully we did that. It was a hard-fought draw. I feel like we created a lot of chances today and could have put more away, but fair play to them – they stayed in the game and got their goal.
We’ll have to look at the mistake that caused the goal and be defensively better. That’ll hurt us tonight – we wanted to keep another clean sheet. We know we need to be a bit more ruthless at the other end. The link play’s good and we’re getting in the right areas. We just need to put the ball away.
Riley McGree’s verdict
We’ve had three really good performances and there are a lot of positives to take. Top of the ground and onto the next one.
I feel really good. I’ve been working as hard to come back and be in the best condition I can, and this game will help me. I like to be creative but I want to score more and assist more. It’s fine getting into positions but I need to be more clinical. Potentially all of us could have been more clinical tonight.
[On the chance he missed] I’m very happy it ended up being a penalty! On another day I think that goes in for me.
Our aim was to top to the group, and we have. Whoever we play in the last 16, we have to beat them.
“Hindsight is a d̶e̶b̶i̶l̶i̶t̶a̶t̶i̶n̶g̶ wonderful thing,” writes Chris Paraskevas, “but Arnie probably should made those changes earlier: the game was crying out for a player like Tilio to run into open space, and a few of the starters looked tired.
“It all just feels a little disjointed in thinking and execution, and that is reflected in the set-pieces: if Harry Souttar is going to end up as Australia’s Ferenc Puskás, he needs quality deliveries to attack. Dead-ball scenarios are theoretically our biggest weapon and best chance of a goal vs Japan, Korea etc.
“Having said that, both of these teams - and the tournament - reflect Asian football: competent and talented footballers, organised teams, some interesting systems... but no real goalscorers or creative players with ‘X-Factor’, or consistent output. Can make for some laboured viewing...”
Kusini Yengi’s reaction
We didn’t do too bad. We wanted to win but we got a point and topped the group, so we’re content. I don’t really care who we face in the next round – we’ve got a great team and when we play at our best we can beat anyone.
Australia win the group, Uzbekistan qualify in the second place, and Syria – who beat India 1-0 – should go through as one of the best third-placed teams.
Australia’s record run of 652 minutes conceding a goal came to aned, though their main concern is at the other end. They’ve had only one shot on target in each of the last two games and lack fluency in attack. But they still qualified comfortably and will play one of Iran, United Arab Emirates, Palestine, Indonesia or Japan on Sunday night.
FT | We top 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐩 𝐁 with a draw at Al Janoub Stadium 🔝🪜#AUSvUZB #Socceroos #AsianCup2023#DifferentBreed pic.twitter.com/nH4vYHyfhE
— Subway Socceroos (@Socceroos) January 23, 2024
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Full time: Australia 1-1 Uzbekistan
That’ll do. It’ll have to do. Australia have continued their slightly laboured progress at the Asian Cup with a hard-fought draw against Uzbekistan. Martin Boyle put them ahead on the stroke of half-time after a value-of-everything-price-of-nothing penalty award, but the substitute Azizbek Turgunboev headed a deserved equaliser with 11 minutes remaining.
The final standings for Group B sees us top the group for a second time at the #AsianCup.#AUSvUZB #Socceroos #AsianCup2023 #DifferentBreed pic.twitter.com/m9iUNJYrCL
— Subway Socceroos (@Socceroos) January 23, 2024
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90+5 min Metcalfe almost produces something out of nothing, chesting a loose ball down 25 yards from goal and swishing it over the bar.
90+4 min: Australia substitutions Lewis Miller and Marco Tilio come on for Jordy Bos, who again looked like a full-back in winger’s clothing, and Nathaniel Atkinson.
90+3 min The two goals are the only shots in target in the entire game, which speaks chapters if not necessarily volumes.
Updated
90 min There will be se7en minutes of added time.
88 min A cross from the left bounces beyond the far post to Metcalfe, whose shot on the stretch deflects behind for a corner. Harry Souttar’s noggin moves forward with intent, but Metcalfe’s corner is headed away at the near post.
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88 min “I like Weaves’ set up (62 min),” says Chris Paraskevas. “I’ve actually got the game running on two screens (each in a separate room). One of those screens is running alongside my Football Manager game (in which I’m managing Australia and Newcastle).
“There’s a slight delay to one of the feeds, so whenever I walk between the rooms there’s a 10-second echo of the game. Complicating/complimenting this Christopher Nolan TENET-style time-capsule of non-interaction with my neighbours is the fact that I occasionally read the MBM first (the MBM is running on two screens). That ghost goal really threw me...”
Not half as much as it threw me.
87 min Nothing much is happening. This result is fine for both sides.
86 min “Just realised the game was on,” says Martin Turnbull. “Turned on for second half. We are very workmanlike. Would be great if we had a touch of stardust. Still, looks like me are qualifying, so all good.”
Indeed. If you peak at the right time, nobody cares what happened in the group stage. Look at Argentina at the last World Cup; they were fifty shades of shower at the start of the tournament.
Updated
84 min: Uzbekistan substitution Igor Sergeyev is stretchered off in distress, his tournament almost certainly over. Jamshid Iskanderov replaces him.
84 min: Australia substitution While Sergeyev receives treatment, Aiden O’Neill and Bruno Fornaroli come on for Keanu Baccus, who hasn’t had his best game, and Riley McGree.
Updated
83 min Sergeyev has injurd himself while trying to challenge Bos. I think he’s pulled a muscle.
80 min Atkinson probably allowed Masharipov to beat him too easily and get to the byline. Even so, it was a really well constructed goal.
Now, all of a sudden, Uzbekistan are one goal away from winning the group.
It was a good goal, too, and on the balance of play Uzbekistan deserve it. It was all the work of two substitutes. The impressive Masharipov ran at Atkinson on the left and stood up a gorgeous cross to the far post, where Turgunboev towered over Behich to plant a header past Ryan from six yards.
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GOAL! Australia 1-1 Uzbekistan (Turgunboev 79)
The Socceroos have finally conceded a goal!
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77 min Australia are having a decent spell of passing down the clock. It’s all a bit Brian Eno, but that’s understandable in the circumstances. They want to keep as much in the tank as possible for their last 16 game on Sunday night.
74 min Omar Maher Khribin has put Syria 1-0 up against India. That makes things a bit more interesting, though Uzbekistan still have a two-goal cushion.
Australia 9pts
Uzbekistan 4 (GD+2)
Syria 4 (GD 0)
India 0
If Uzbekistan and Syria finish level on points and goal difference, second place will be decided by disciplinary points. Both would probably qualify anyway though.
Updated
73 min Erm, something weird happened there – I think some text from the India game appeared. That’s very odd. Anyway, it’s still 1-0, I can promise you that.
72 min: Australia substitution Connor Metcalfe for Martin Boyle.
Updated
70 min Riley McGree is rightly booked for a slightly weird scissor tackle on Sayfiyev.
68 min It’s been a slightly subdued second half – nothing like West Germany v Austria in 1982, I should stress, but not the most intense 25 minutes of football you’ll ever see.
Australia want to win but know a draw is enough to win the group, and they’re already through anyway. Uzbekistan want to draw but know they can probably afford to lose 1-0.
66 min Look, the parable of Italy 1982 tells us we should never read too much into the group stages, but Australia haven’t looked like potential winners so far. I think they’ve had only two shots on target in the last couple of games, one of which was an absurd penalty.
The good news is that they haven’t conceded a goal since 1947, so they might only need one goal to win a game.
64 min: Double substitution for Uzbekistan Igor Sergeyev and Azizbek Turgunboev replace Hojimat Erkinov and the impressive Abbosbek Fayzullayev.
62 min “Sinner vs Rublev on the TV, Oztraya vs Uzbeks on the Surface Pro, Guardian MBM on the app,” writes Weaves. “Happy days.”
I’ve said it all along: two rights > one wrong.
60 min: Eshumurodov has a goal disallowed! Maty Ryan still haven’t had a save to make, but he was beaten a moment ago. The centre-back Eshmurodov planted an excellent header into the net from a left-wing free-kick; alas he went too early and was fractionally offside when the ball was delivered. It was very close though.
Updated
58 min Abdirahmatov has a shot blocked on the edge of the area. Although Uzbekistan have played some good stuff, Maty Ryan hasn’t had a save to make yet.
Updated
57 min It remains Syria 0-0 India in the other Group B game. If this stays 1-0, Syria need to win by three goals to have a chance of qualifying automatically in second place.
55 min The Socceroos look happy to sit deep and play on the break for now. Uzbekistan are in the strange position of needing a draw to guarantee qualification while also knowing a heavier defeat than 1-0 could kibosh their chances.
51 min: So close from Masharipov! It was a terrific free-kick, flashed just wide of the far post with his right foot. Ryan was on that side of the goal and may have had it covered, though I wouldn’t bet the farm on it.
50 min Souttar is booked for hoofing Fayzullayev on the edge of the D. This is a chance for Uzbekistan…
46 min: Chance for Australia! McGree almost scores within 40 seconds of the restart. Irvine played a nice pass to release Bos, who rode a tackle on the edge of the area and screwed the ball back towards McGree. He opened his body to hit a first-time shot that was crucially blocked.
Updated
46 min Uzbekistan have made a half-time change: the captain Jaloliddin Masharipov, who was surprisingly omitted/not fit enough to start, is on for Oston Urunov.
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Half time: Australia 1-0 Uzbekistan
A poor half of football, enlivened only by an even worse penalty decision that allowed Martin Boyle to put Australia ahead. That was the only shot on target at either end. As things stand both teams, with Syria drawing 0-0 against India, both teams are going through.
Australia 9pts
Uzbekistan 4
Syria 2
India 1
45+8 min Bos’s cross is headed over by Yengi, who was jumping away from goal and did well to get it anywhere near the target. The attack started with what looked like a foul by Baccus on the edge of the Australian area, and the collective blood pressure is rising apace on the Uzbekistan bench.
45+6 min Bos shoots wide from the edge of the area. It looked good as it exploded off his left foot but swerved a long way past the far post.
45+4 min Boyle’s corner is met on the half-volley by Irvine, whose shot deflects behind for another.
45+4 min McGree beats Ashurmatov on the edge of the area with a majestic flick behind his standing leg. Hamrobekov comes across to make an important tackle and concede a corner.
45+3 min Shukurov has been booked for dissent.
45+2 min Theer will be seven minutes of added time by the way. I suppose Australia can argue Eshmurodov should have been sent off earlier in the half, that it all evens itself out, but that penalty decision is profoundly dispiriting.
GOAL! Australia 1-0 Uzbekistan (Boyle 45+1 pen)
A fine penalty from Martin Boyle, who calmly sends Yusupov the wrong way.
Updated
44 min Hamrobekov is booked as well. Srecko Katanec is sarcastically applauding the officials.
44 min: Penalty given! An utter shambles. Football RIP.
43 min: VAR check for an Australia penalty! The ball touched the hand of Hamrobekov when Yengi sat him down in the area, and the referee is going to the monitor. This would be a scandalous penalty – Hamrobekov was sliding and used his arm to break his fall.
Updated
41 min: Great chance for McGree! Yengi does brilliantly on the left of the area, nutmegging one defender and sitting another down before cutting the ball back to McGree near the penalty spot. He takes the shot first time, with his reliable left foot, and somehow screws it wide of the far post! That’s a bad miss.
40 min Australia haven’t played well in this half. But they have set a new defensive record in A internationals, having now gone 613 minutes without conceding a goal.
Updated
39 min Almost a chance for Australia. Boyle again makes an excellent run infield, onto a straight through pass, but this time Eshmurodov makes a clean – and possibly goal-saving – challenge on the edge of the area.
37 min Shukurov has two shots blocked in the space of a few seconds, the second quite brilliantly by Souttar. Australia are struggling here.
Updated
36 min: Chance for Uzbekistan! Souttar’s ball is cut out near the halfway line, and suddenly Uzbekistan have a five-on-two attack. Mercifully for Australia, the lunging Souttar gets a vital touch on Ashurmatov’s pass which diverts the ball through to Ryan. Sheesh, Australia dodged one there.
34 min The score is 0-0: shots on target, goals, whatever you like. It hasn’t been great I’m afraid.
Updated
31 min Bos slaloms elegantly into the area from the left before Erkinov steps across to make a fine tackle.
30 min Adirahmatov’s cross is met by Fayzullaev, whose header 12 yards is stopped at source by Souttar. We’ve seen thousands of block-tackles throughout football history but that might be the first block-header.
30 min It’s been a stop-start half, with lots of fouls in the middle of the field. Australia still don’t look right going forward.
27 min After a VAR check, the yellow card is upheld. Eshmurodov may have got away with one there.
McGree curls the free-kick over the bar from 25 yards.
Updated
25 min Eshmurodov is booked for a cynical foul on Doyle. The Australian players want a red card, because Doyle was running onto a through pass and Eshmurodov was the lsat man. The presence of a covering defender just about saved him, but you can certainly make a case for it being a clear goalscoring opportunity.
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21 min Fayzullayev runs behind the defence onto a long ball over the top, cuts inside and hits a stinging left-footed shot that is well blocked by Rowles. The Socceroos aren’t having things their own way at all.
21 min It’s still goalless in the other game between Syria and India. This is the state of play in Group B as things stand:
Australia 7pts
Uzbekistan 5
Syria 2
India 1
19 min A good cross from Sayfiyev is headed away by Rowles, I think. Uzbekistan are playing the more penetrative stuff, even if Australia are having more of the ball.
15 min The right-back Abdirahmatov plays a nice return pass to the underlapping Erkinov, whose cutback is intercepted by Rowles at the near post. Good positioning.
Updated
13 min Uzbekistan’s 5-4-1 formation looks negative, but they’re switching to a genuine 3-4-3 when they have the ball. They’ve played some decent stuff in what has been an even start to the game.
11 min: Yengi has a goal disallowed! It was a simple header into an open net from a couple of yards, but Boyle was offside in the build up. Though Boyle didn’t touch the ball, he tried to head Bos’s deflected cross and thus became active.
Updated
9 min Souttar gives the ball straight to Urunov in a dangerous area, but he recovers to make an important if slightly ungainly challenge in the penalty box. That was a decent opening for Urunov, who wasn’t as decisive as he might have been.
Souttar has such fond memories of that last ditch sliding challenge against Tunisia at the Al Janoub that he straight up gave the ball to the Uzbeks so he could do it again. #AUSvYZB
— Joseph Lynch (@joeylynchy) January 23, 2024
Updated
8 min Australia’s first good attack. McGree (I think) releases Doyle, who stands up a nice first-time cross that just evades Yengi on the six-yard line.
7 min Urunov makes a terrific run down the left, covering about 70 yards before running into a brick wall named Harold James Souttar.
4 min Sayfiyev is down in the centre circle holding his face. He was caught by a flailing arm from his teammate Ashurmatov.
2 min Uzbekistan are playing 5-4-1 formation without the ball. A draw would guarantee a place in the last 16, though they should qualify whatever happens today. It’s extremely rare that a team with four points doesn’t go through as one of the four best third-placed teams.
1 min Peep peep! The Socceroos kick off from left to right as we watch.
Uzbekistan are coached by Srecko Katanec, which is a good excuse to link to a piece from the archive that was all kinds of fun to do. The joy of that Sampdoria team was embodied by the wonderful Gianluca Vialli.
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“G’day Rob,” writes Chris Paraskevas, which is all well and good but what we really want to know i- “Before you ask: no, I didn’t argue with any neighbours today. It’s such a shame that Mitch ‘The Duke’ Duke has a dodgy hammy. I had a whole bunch of Escape From New York puns and YouTube links planned for Australia’s deep(ly prosaic, formulaic and pseudo-catennacio) run to the final.
“Big game for Kye Rowles: at the World Cup he had some nervy moments and Souttar carried him at times. But I thought he was quietly impressive in the opening game against India, often covering for Souttar’s lack of mobility and passing the ball intelligently.
“I’d also like to see Jordy Bos operating out of left back instead of in a front three: it’s a slightly negative move and perhaps a dress rehearsal for a fixture against Japan? He never quite looks comfortable starting that high up the pitch. Might pay off in time, though...”
Yes, our man Joey Lynch has been saying this for a while too. He looks a more natural left-back to me, somebody who is more dangerous when he has space to surge into. I’m sure that's where he’ll end up, though maybe not in this tournament. That said, he should be more dangerous as a wide forward in the knockout rounds against teams who don’t defend so deep.
Australia’s defence could smash a few records this evening. They haven’t conceded in over nine hours of football – and that excludes added time, which we really need to do something about. Can we not knock measure it?
This means that in #AUSvUZB, AUS will set new records of no goals conceded:
— andrew howe (@AndyHowe_statto) January 23, 2024
- in A internationals (609+ mins) if UZB doesn't score before 36'
- in ALL internationals (652+ mins) if UZB doesn't score before 79'
- in complete games (7 consecutive games) if UZB doesn't score at all
A reminder of tonight’s teams. Just over 10 minutes to kick off now.
📋 LINE UPS | 🇦🇺 Australia 🆚 Uzbekistan 🇺🇿
— #AsianCup2023 (@afcasiancup) January 23, 2024
These are the sides set to battle it out for 🔝 spot in Group 🅱️❗️
📺 Watch Live https://t.co/Wvc1BBNkqM#AsianCup2023 | #HayyaAsia | #AUSvUZB pic.twitter.com/iTOj90eQcV
⏰ Time to to w🔥rm-up! 🏃♂️💨
— Subway Socceroos (@Socceroos) January 23, 2024
🇦🇺 v 🇺🇿 - 23.1.24, 10:30pm AEDT
📱💻📺 Live on Channel 10, Paramount+, 10 Play#AUSvUZB #Socceroos #AsianCup2023 #DifferentBreed pic.twitter.com/OSKaV7lvBS
Team news: Yengi starts
The injured Mitch Duke is replaced up front by Kusini Yengi, not Bruno Fornaroli. Nathaniel Atkinson, Keanu Baccus, Kye Rowles and Riley McGree also come into the side in place of Gethin Jones, Aiden O’Neill, Cameron Burgess and Connor Metcalfe.
Uzbekistan make four changes from their 3-0 win over India. Rustan Ashurmatov, Abdulla Abdullayev, Khojimat Erkinov and Zafarmurod Abdirahmatov replace Abdukodir Khusanov, Sherzod Nasrullayev, Jaloddin Masharipov and Igor Sergeyev. That could mean a switch to a back five.
Australia (4-1-2-3) Ryan; Atkinson, Souttar, Rowles, Behich; Baccus; McGree, Irvine; Boyle, Yengi, Bos.
Substitutes: Deng, Silvera, Metcalfe, Fornaroli, Tilio, Thomas, O’Neill, Miller, Burgess, Goodwin, Yazbek, Iredale.
Uzbekistan (possible 5-4-1) Yusupov; Abdirahmatov, Eshmurodov, Ashurmatov, Abdullayev, Sayfiyev; Erkinov, Shukurov, Hamrobekov, Urunov; Fayzullayev.
Substitutes: Hamraliev, Holmatov, Iskanderov, Masharipov, Nematov, Boltaboyev, Ergashev, Abdiholiqov, Turgunboyev, Sergeyev, Umarov, Amonov.
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Tonight’s game is at the Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, a place with some of the happiest possible memories for this generation of players and fans.
Graham Arnold’s pre-match thoughts
I can be honest and say Mitchell Duke is out with a hamstring (injury), it’ll be one game at a time for him. He had a bit of a scan and he’s got a small strain, so he’ll be out. So, it’s an opportunity for me to have a look at other players as well against good opposition, a great test. At the end of the day, winning is the most important thing and obviously we can do better in that department.
There’ll be a few changes, but I don’t think there’s much difference in the depth of our squad now, I think that if you make changes, the team will still be strong. I think the most important thing is sometimes the individual quality of backing ourselves.
We’re going out there to win the game and obviously Uzbekistan are coming along a lot as a country, they invest a lot of money in football, and they’re a good side, and we’ll be ready for them on Tuesday. It’s up to us to get out there with our mindset, our work rate and our commitment and culture that we’ve got and do a great job for all of us.
Our goal right from the start was to top the group and with high expectations, if you don’t reach for the stars, well, then you’ll never achieve anything in life. It’s a great tournament, I’m really excited about it and I’m very proud of the boys first two wins, but it’s one game at a time and making sure that we get this one right.
Preamble
Hello and welcome to live, minute-by-minuteish coverage of Australia v Uzbekistan in Al Wakrah. It’s the Socceroos’ final group game before the serious business begins. On paper they’ve made a solid start to the Asian Cup, beating India 2-0 and Syria 1-0. On the pitch it hasn’t been quite so persuasive, particularly during two laboured first-half performances, so they could do with a statement performance tonight.
Uzbekistan, who will be in the last 16 barring an unforeseeable turn of events, are the toughest opponents so far. They took Australia to a penalty competition four years ago before Maty Ryan did the necessary. The Socceroos have never lost or even conceded a goal to Uzbekistan; if that continues tonight they will top Group B.
That would theoretically give them an easier route in the knockout stages, though the situation has been complicated by Japan’s defeat to Iraq. The full permutations are frankly far too boring to detail at this stage, so let’s stick to the facts.
If Australia draw or win today, their last 16 will be against a third-placed team from groups A, C or D: one of China, Palestine, Hong Kong, United Arab Emirates, Indonesia or – yikes – Japan.
If Australia lose today they will meet the runners up in Group F: probably Thailand, possibly Saudi Arabia or Oman.
That’s all to come. First, to business.
Kick off 2.30pm local/10.30pm AEDT.
Your favourite memory against Uzbekistan? 💭
— Subway Socceroos (@Socceroos) January 23, 2024
🇦🇺 v 🇺🇿 - 23.1.24, 10:30pm AEDT
📱💻📺 Live on Channel 10, Paramount+, 10 Play#AUSvUZB #Socceroos #AsianCup2023 #DifferentBreed pic.twitter.com/3YDZd2ZFcC
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