Final thoughts
Well, that was an entertaining evening of football. There wasn’t a huge crowd but those that did make it out to Parramatta for the Socceroos’ homecoming were rewarded with an impressive showing from Graham Arnold’s side. Jackson Irvine was excellent, Duke and Goodwin stood out, Souttar and Rowls were solid at the back, O’Neill put in a fine debut performance and Kuol bagged his first Socceroos goal. Oh, and Alex Robertson needlessly kicked off near the end to endear himself to his new Australian fans. We were just deprived an appearance by Nestory Irankunda, but there’s always next time for that. All in all, a decent night out.
On to Melbourne on Tuesday. Be sure to join us again for that one. But for tonight, it’s goodbye.
Alex Robertson is a bit stuck for words. He’s here with his dad and his granddad.
“It was great, my grandad and my dad had done it. I cannot really describe how it feels.”
On the penalty incident:
“I took the touch and he tripped me up, there is no VAR so it is what the referee sees. I am playing for a country that means a lot to me and my family, I would do anything for the shirt and the team I am playing with and that comes with passion and I thought that was a penalty and that is why the reaction, pointing in my face, it was emotions being on the pitch.”
Asked if he’s now a Socceroo for life, he says: “I hope so, that is out of my hands but I hope so.”
And here he is, the man of the moment, Garang Kuol:
“Beautiful moment to score a first goal. I think I almost missed it. Happy with the points, the boys fought hard and a win is all we wanted.
“Straight away, the camaraderie, the brotherhood is back, especially after the World Cup. Feels like a second family. Very special place, being with the boys.”
Here’s how Kuol opened his Socceroos’ account – not the prettiest finish we’ll ever see, with a whiff of offside to boot, but they all count.
Kuolazo 🥰
— Subway Socceroos (@Socceroos) March 24, 2023
A moment Garang won't ever forget ⚽
🎥 @10FootballAU #AUSvECU #Socceroos pic.twitter.com/LlHMZK7kHo
And here’s Aiden O’Neill, who enjoyed a decent debut tonight:
“Unbelievable, hard to put into words, my family are here from Brisbane, my sister and everything so it was unbelievable and to get a result like that, we were disciplined and played really well. I have been enjoying my football and tonight I enjoyed that and I felt like I belong.”
Big Harry Souttar speaks:
“So pleased for the boys, we saw some young boys playing tonight, unbelievable. Aiden O’Neill making his debut, not going to get many boys better than that. Garang Kuol, the future is really big.”
On Alex Robertson’s debut and the slight drama surrounding him at the end:
“He is still young, 18, 19, and I said to him I love that, that is what we are all about and I thought it was a penalty, to be honest. I am really pleased for him and all of the boys.”
Updated
Full-time: Australia 3-1 Ecuador
90+5 mins: All over and Australia register an entertaining victory against a good Ecuador side on their homecoming!
90+4 mins: Borrello goes mighty close to a fourth for Australia as time runs out. He shoots across Ramirez, but it’s inches wide of the far post!
90 mins: Five minutes of added time to be played.
89 mins: Oh dear. Robertson loses his head a bit here. He goes down in the box under the challenge of Mendez and is convinced he should have a penalty. The ref disagrees, and Mendez believes he’s dived. The Ecuadorian points an accusatory finger at the Australian and taps him on the head. Robertson responds by springing up and grabbing Mendez by his shirt. It’s all over as quickly as it started though – no cards.
Updated
88 mins: Another change made by Arnold now – Jackson Irvine takes his leave after a goal and an assist; Conor Metcalfe comes on in his place.
87 mins: He does! And Ryan is called into action, but it’s a relatively straight-forward save for him.
86 mins: Ryan may have another save to make here, as Ecuador plot a free-kick, around 30 yards out. Looks like Estupinan’s going to have a pop on goal…
84 mins: Again, more than a hint of offside about that one as the ball came across to Kuol but there’s no VAR tonight and he won’t care.
GOAL! Australia 3-1 Ecuador (Kuol 83)
More good build up play from Australia as Robertson feeds Borrello, who plays in Behich. The full-back centres and Kuol is there to tap in from close range! A first international goal for Kuol, and should be that now!
82 mins: Borrello to Tilio, back to Borrello, but his shot is blocked and the ball goes behind for an Australia corner! Nice link up play from the subs.
80 mins: Into the final 10 minutes we go. Ryan has made four saves tonight, to Ramirez’s three.
79 mins: Ryan is called into action to deny Caicedo’s effort from a narrow angle, that was heading for the roof of the net in a not dissimilar fashion to Mabil’s earlier goal.
78 mins: More Australia changes… Goodwin and Mabil make way for Kuol and Tilio.
76 mins: Cifientes fancies his luck from distance and tries to catch Ryan off his line. No dice though, it’s way off target.
75 mins: Robertson and Mabil combine nicely before the latter is hauled down by Estupinan. Another free-kick to Australia.
73 mins: Oooh! It goes to the back stick, where Souttar climbs to head back across the face of goal! Rowles is there but his effort is clawed away by Ramirez, with Mabil close on hand too! Close to a third for the Socceroos!
Updated
72 mins: The ref does blow up this time as O’Neill tumbles under a high boot from Caicedo. Goodwin is over the free-kick and has a chance to deliver a good ball into the box now.
70 mins: O’Neill brings down Cifientes right on the edge of the Australian box, but the ref waves play on, somewhat incredibly.
68 mins: Where’s Irankunda?
67 mins: Here comes a change for Ecuador – Preciado’s race is run. And on come Arreaga, Sornoza and Rodriguez, with Mena and Estrada also coming off.
66 mins: Robertson gets involved soon enough, clashing in the air with Preciado, who stays down and will require a bit of attention.
64 mins: A bit scrappy at the moment, as Ecuador win a few free-kicks for cheap fouls in midfield.
63 mins: Let’s see what the Man City youngster, who becomes a third generation Socceroo, has got. Arnold seems to rate him highly.
62 mins: Here we go then. Alex Robertson comes on to make his Socceroos debut! Brandon Borrello enters the fray with him, at the expense of Baccus and Duke. (Duke has been good tonight.)
59 mins: Successive corners to Ecuador don’t lead to anything, so let’s enjoy Mabil’s strike, should we?
Back in front with a bang 💥@awermabil17 🔥
— Subway Socceroos (@Socceroos) March 24, 2023
🎥 @10FootballAU
🇦🇺 2-1 🇪🇨 #AUSvECU #Socceroos pic.twitter.com/0G3CBs6fgV
57 mins: Again lovely buildup play from the Socceroos as Goodwin backheels to Duke, who has his heels clipped just as he draws back his foot to shoot, but the whistle has already gone for offside (it’s not offside, the TV replay later shows).
56 mins: The Socceroos attempt to play out of the back, but Ecuador press well and pin them back. In the end, Behich wins a free-kick.
55 mins: I can’t see it, but I can hear vocal efforts being made to begin a Mexican wave in the stands. Still plenty of interest on the pitch though.
54 mins: Mabil leaves the free-kick for Goodwin, but it’s a poor delivery from the Adelaide United man and nothing comes of it.
53 mins: Mabil goes down in a heap as Hincapie and Mendez pile into him over on the far side, and it’ll be a free-kick to Australia.
52 mins: Ooof! Caicedo stings the fingers of Ryan with a thunderbolt from the edge of the box! Great hit, and matched by a great save!
51 mins: Nothing doing this time as the Ecuador move breaks down and Goodwin plays a super ball of his own to release Duke on the break.
50 mins: A great run by Preciado down the right wing sees him skip past three Australian challenges before he sends a cross-field ball over to the other side of the pitch. This is looking dangerous…
49 mins: A promising foray forward from Ecuador comes to naught as Estupinan misjudges his cross, which is overhit and goes out for a goal kick.
48 mins: Oh, what a lovely interchange of short passing from the Socceroos. They are playing with a confidence at times that is highly encouraging.
47 mins: Ecuador start the second period as they did the first – looking to play the ball around the back. Australia press well though and the ball goes out of play for a throw.
Peeeep! Second half under way
46 mins: Up and running again in Parra! No changes to tell you about… yet.
Elsewhere, Thomas Tuchel is in line to replace Julian Nagelsmann at Bayern Munich after the German giants sacked Nagelsmann for… for… remind me again? Anyway, you can follow developments in Europe with our football news liveblog:
The Socceroos looked good at times during that opening 45, after it took them a while to get going. Both goals had their merits – Irvine’s neat finish owed a lot to Duke’s outstretched leg and pull-back (even if he was arguably offside), while Mabil’s was pure thunder, a blast that gave the keeper Ramirez no chance at all. Arnold may be unhappy to have conceded, particularly as the initial free-kick was poor, but overall, that was a decent first-half showing. We can expect a bunch of changes after the break, and I’m sure I’m not alone in hoping Nestory Irankunda gets an outing. He could tear it up out there tonight. Stick with us, second half coming right up.
Half-time: Australia 2-1 Ecuador
45+2 mins: A moment of danger as the ball pings around the Australia box. But there goes the whistle! Well, that was quite an entertaining half of football. It ends with the Socceroos a goal up, thanks to Awer Mabil’s goal, after Jackson Irvine’s opener had been cancelled out by Felix Torres.
45 mins: Two minutes of added time signalled for the end of the first half.
44 mins: Goodwin shows a neat touch as the Socceroos now break. Mabil’s final ball is an inch too short though and the move breaks down.
43 mins: Estupinan’s delivery this time is not good though, and the ball runs all the way out the other side of the box.
42 mins: Ecuador get some breathing space now, as Caicedo draws a foul from Souttar on the break. And now the visitors have another chance to get the ball into the Australia box.
41 mins: Mabil fires it into the mixer, low and hard, and it causes a moment of consternation before the ball is cleared.
40 mins: Estupinan collides with his own keeper, spectacularly so as he does a somersault, but it’ll be a corner to Australia…
39 mins: That’s a great ball in from an Ecuador free-kick… it’s angled beautifully beyond the back line, and Ryan needs two bites at the cherry before holding onto the ball.
38 mins: Every time Preciado’s name is mentioned by the commentator, I hear Bresciano, and am taken back to the years of the golden generation…
37 mins: Debutant Aiden O’Neill is urged by the crowd to shoot as the ball falls to him kindly 25 yards out. He can’t resist… it’s a decent effort, on target, but straight at Ramirez, who makes a comfortable save.
35 mins: Ecuador have had 58% of possession so far, according to the latest stats. But they’ve been the sloppier of the two sides, crucially.
34 mins: Mitch Duke shows some lovely skills for a big man down on the byline but his prod goalwards doesn’t reach its intended target. Still, the Wanderers fans in this crowd loved that.
33 mins: The crowd are alive again now. That was a tremendous finish from Mabil, the Young Australian of the Year of course. But questions will have to be asked of the Ecuador defence at the break. What were they thinking there?
GOAL! Australia 2-1 Ecuador (Mabil 32)
Commentator’s curse? Absolutely! Mabil thunders Australia back into the lead! It’s awful for Ecuador, who botch their attempt to play out from the back. Irvine catches Bayer Leverkusen’s Hincapie in possession, the ball falls kindly for Mabil, who unleashes a rocket into the roof of the net!
30 mins: Half an hour on the clock and it’s all square. That break in play as Sarmiento was treated has just taken the sting out of the game for the moment.
28 mins: And this is a shame for Ecuador – Sarmiento can’t carry on. He’s off, and will be replaced by Alexander Alvarado.
27 mins: We’ll have a break in play now, with Sarmiento down injured. A chance for the players to grab a drink.
25 mins: That really was a prodigious leap from Torres, who rose like a salmon in between two gold shirts to nod home. No celebration at all from the Ecuadorian.
GOAL! Australia 1-1 Ecuador (Torres, 23)
It’s a poor free-kick from Mena, whose low delivery hits the first man and cleared, but is recycled by Sarmiento, who does manage to get his cross right, finding the leaping Torres, who powers a header into the back of the net! One-one!
21 mins: Behich is booked for a pull on the shirt of Preciado, who had completely done the Socceroos left-back. Free-kick in a dangerous area for Ecuador now…
19 mins: Excitement as some neat approach play from Duke, playing on his former home ground of course, raises volume levels inside the stadium.
18 mins: Australia have found their feet in this game now, after what was a sluggish start. Duke wins a free-kick in the middle of the park after Caicedo hauls him down. Souttar take it, backwards to Ryan.
17 mins: Nice from Mabil, who scoops the ball with the outside of his boot to release a teammate on the right wing. Nothing comes of it this time though.
15 mins: Ecuador look to hit back straight away through Estupinan, but this time the ref’s whistle sounds, and it’ll be an Australia free-kick.
13 mins: There was a sniff of offside there, as the ball came in from Goodwin to Duke, but the lino didn’t spot it and there’s no VAR tonight, so the goal stands.
GOAL! Australia 1-0 Ecuador (Irvine 12)
A Craig Goodwin free-kick finds Duke at the back stick, who stretches to volley the ball back across the face of the goal, where Irvine is waiting to fire home first time! Australia lead!
12 mins: Straight down to the other end and Mitch Duke’s cross is only partially cleared, the ball falls to Mabil, but he dithers and the chance goes begging!
11 mins: Caicedo pings over a cross this time and the Cifientes wastes the first real chance of the night! His downward header is straight at Ryan, who picks up easily.
10 mins: Estupinan sends the dead ball into the Socceroos’ box, but it’s floated in rather than pinged, and easy enough to head away.
9 mins: Baccus collides with Estrada, both players go down, but the referee gives the free-kick Ecuador’s way. Australia will have to be on their toes here….
7 mins: Goodwin now, on the left flank, fires in a low cross which promises danger. Cleared this time by the Ecuador defence.
6 mins: Back Ecuador go to Ramirez again. He pumps it upfield towards Sarmiento, but he’s unable to bring the ball under his control. Still, Ecuador retain possession and there’s a brief moment of unease as Degenek is unable to clear from inside his own box. The Socceroos do eventual clear their lines this time though.
5 mins: That’s not great distribution from Ryan though, who plays the ball straight out of play. A bit ragged from the Socceroos so far.
4 mins: Ecuador win the ball back soon enough and play the ball all the way back to Ramirez in between the sticks. But possession is ceded shortly afterwards and now Australia will have a chance to play the ball around a bit.
3 mins: This is, um, speculative at best from Estrada, who might have spotted Ryan off his line and tries his luck with a 40-yard lob. It doesn’t trouble the Socceroos keeper at all.
2 mins: Ecuador get the ball moving with some neat passing in the opening exchanges as they look to build from the back.
Peeeep! First half under way
1 min: And we’re finally off, well behind the scheduled 8pm kick-off.
A quick note before kick-off – Australia in their usual gold shirts, with green shorts and white socks; Ecuador in navy blue shirts and socks tonight, with white shorts. I’ll be honest, I like the visitors’ kit, very nice.
The Welcome to Country is delivered by Julie Jones, Darug Knowledge Holder. Beautifully done. And now for the national anthems, Ecuador first up.
Here we are then. The teams are ready, all serious faces in the tunnel until an Australian team mascot makes massive Harry Souttar crack a smile. Out they come, to pyrotechnics and a healthy enough cheer from the half-filled stands.
It’s far from a sell-out tonight. A sub-20,000 crowd does sound a bit disappointing to be honest.
Expectations of a crowd around 15-18k tonight at CommBank. I know tix went on sale late and there's a cost of living crisis but would have hoped for more given the World Cup the Socceroos just had. Bit flat for the lads if that's the turnout. #AUSvECU
— Vince Rugari (@VinceRugari) March 24, 2023
The lights have gone out at CommBank Stadium, dramatically so. Assume that means the players will be making an entrance shortly.
Some Opta insights for you to mull over before the teams come out into CommBank Stadium:
This will be just the second meeting between Australia and Ecuador in men’s internationals and the first since March 2014 when Ecuador won 4-3 on the day after trailing 3-0 at the half-time break.
Australia have lost only one of their last 10 men’s internationals on home soil (W7 D2), keeping five clean sheets in the last six games in that span; their only loss was a 2-0 defeat to Japan in March 2022.
Ecuador will be looking to avoid back-to-back defeats in men’s internationals for the first time since June 2021 after losing 2-1 to Senegal in their last game; they were unbeaten in nine straight games prior to that loss (W3 D6).
Craig Goodwin (Australia) scored two goals and made two assists across his nine appearances for the Socceroos in 2022; he was the only player to score and assist multiple goals for Australia across the year.
Mat Ryan is the only player in the current Socceroos squad from the Australia team that lost to Ecuador 4-3 in their last meeting in March 2014; Matthew Leckie (unavailable due to injury) also started in that game.
Weather update: The rain that has been coming down intermittently all day in Sydney has cleared for now. There’s a chance of some further drizzle after kick-off, but nothing major.
It’s not just Arnold who has recently signed a new contract – his assistant René Meulensteen will stick around for another “cycle” too. Football Australia confirmed the deal earlier this evening (although Arnold appeared to let slip the news during his pre-match presser yesterday), so when the Football Australia statement landed, it was hardly a surprise.
“The potential, the opportunities, and the challenges that lie ahead are the reasons why I’ve chosen to sign on for a further campaign,” the former Manchester United first team coach said.
Arnold added in a statement: “René played an important role in the success of our Socceroos and Olyroos’ campaigns over the past four years, and I’m delighted he has agreed to remain with the senior national team for a further World Cup cycle.
“We both firmly believe that the best is yet to come for this current and emerging group of players, with our sights set on claiming next year’s AFC Asian Cup and automatic qualification for the FIFA World Cup in 2026, where we want to create further history for Australian football.”
“New cycle” is tonight’s buzz phrase. Here’s captain Maty Ryan, very much on brand:
“We’re starting this new cycle, everybody’s excited, there are fresh faces, the energy has been high and we have been looking forward to tonight,” he says.
“[The potential debutants bring] plenty of energy, it has been nice to see the fresh faces and the fact there is a lot of excitement that they can bring something to the team and make us stronger. Fingers crossed they can make the most of the opportunities and get some nice experience being in camp for the games.”
Graham Arnold is on the TV, talking about that World Cup campaign, and what it meant to him and his team in Qatar.
“It was crazy to see the scenes and how much the country got behind the boys… surreal at times. Everyone overseas was amazed to see those scenes because they were thinking it is late in the afternoon in Australia, but when they checked the time schedule it was amazing. Look at this, look at what we were getting in Australia.”
Updated
Team news
Here’s some of that aforementioned youth – Aiden O’Neill of Melbourne City gets the nod to start and make his debut as Socceroos No 629. St Mirren midfielder Keanu Baccus, also 24 years of age, lines up alongside him in Australia’s midfield. Irankunda, Bos and Robertson are all on the bench, along with another potential debutant, the goalkeeper Joe Gauci.
Aaron Mooy is out injured of course, so too Riley McGree. Craig Goodwin and Awer Mabil come in.
🇦🇺 STARTING XI 🗒️
— Subway Socceroos (@Socceroos) March 24, 2023
Presenting our lineup for tonight's clash with Ecuador in Sydney!
Congratulations to Aiden O'Neill, who is set to become Socceroo cap #629 🙌
🇦🇺 v 🇪🇨
⚽ Kick off 8.00pm AEDT
🏟 @commbankstadium, Sydney
📺 Live on @Channel10AU or @10BoldAU (check local… pic.twitter.com/QHcMm1z6a6
And here’s how the visitors line up tonight:
💪 ¡Los 1️⃣1️⃣!
— La Tri 🇪🇨 (@LaTri) March 24, 2023
✅ Este es el once inicial de #LaTri 🇪🇨 para su partido 🆚 Australia
Gracias a @gatoradeecuador #HidratadorOficial de nuestra Selección⚽ #VamosLaTri💛💙❤️ pic.twitter.com/vHbpgjd3hs
Brighton’s Moises Caicedo is the obvious man to watch, although this team poses threats all through the attacking third.
Updated
Preamble
Hello there. The Socceroos are back on home soil for the first time since their World Cup heroics in Qatar and Parramatta is suitably decked out in green and gold to welcome Graham Arnold’s team. Ecuador are tonight’s opponents in western Sydney – and in Melbourne next week for that matter.
The Australian football public have been asked to come out and show their appreciation for the team after they unexpectedly reached the last 16 of the tournament before bowing out to the eventual winners Argentina. We’ll see how many do – it being a rainy Friday night in Sydney and all.
Regardless, tonight represents the beginning of a new, possibly exciting, chapter for the Socceroos – the start of the next World Cup cycle. Arnold is still at the helm, the ink from his new four-year deal barely dry, as the tournament in Canada, USA and Mexico permeates into people’s thoughts.
Arnold has promised a blend of youth and experience in his team tonight, and excitement could come in the form of an appearance for the 17-year-old Nestory Irankunda, who has set the A-League Men alight this season off the bench. Hopefully we get to see the Adelaide United winger become the youngest Socceroo of all time tonight, while Alex Robertson and Jordan Bos are likely to take their international bow too.
Ecuador, ranked 41 in the world – 14 places below 27th-ranked Australia – will be no pushovers tonight however; their World Cup exploits nearly rivalled those of the Socceroos after they beat hosts Qatar before taking a point off the Netherlands – some would say they were unlucky not to take all three – and were desperately close to progressing from Group A, only to be denied a place in the last 16 by defeat to Senegal at the last.
Kick-off is 8pm local – around 30 minutes off. Team news is on the way. In the meantime, feel free to get in touch with an email or on Twitter @mike_hytner with any thoughts on tonight’s game. Let’s do this!
