Summary
After Australia took the honours in Sydney, Ecuador evened the ledger in Melbourne in the second of two friendlies this international break. The South Americans were good value for their victory, with second-half goals from Pervis Estupiñán and William Pacho securing the result.
Both teams were much-changed and it was the Socceroos who started the brightest in an opening 20 minutes played at breakneck speed. With the ball hardly ever in the possession of one team for more than a couple of passes, Australia’s forward press hassled and harried La Tri’s defence into a series of errors.
The goal came from that type of industry with captain for the night Jackson Irvine rampaging through broken play down the left, feeding Craig Goodwin inside him, and the World Cup goalscorer striking the right-hand upright with a powerful drive. Brandon Borrello was in an offside position when the shot was taken, but he was not flagged when he put the ball in the back of the net to cap an effervescent individual display.
Thereafter, positive moments were few and far between for the hosts who relied on debutant goalkeeper Joe Gauci to rescue them with two brilliant one-on-one saves from the powerful Kevin Rodriguez. The big centre forward showed strength and pace all night, keeping Thomas Deng and Bailey Wright occupied, and it was little surprise when Deng conceded a penalty after Rodriguez broke free on a typically bullocking run. Gauci could do nothing with Pervis Estupiñán’s expertly taken spot kick.
Ecuador smelled blood – literally, as well as figuratively, with Cameron Devlin’s eyebrow gushing like the Icelandic Geysir following a first-half collision, in a “friendly” unworthy of the name. And their second-half dominance was confirmed when William Pacho rose highest to glance an out-swinging corner in off the far post.
There was still time for a promising international debut for Jordan Bos and more madcap scrapping in midfield (Moisés Caicedo was lucky to receive only one yellow card all night) before the final whistle. A sound heard by just over 27,000 fans in Melbourne, well below the hoped-for 50,000.
Thank you for joining me tonight. Stay tuned for Emma Kemp’s thoughts tomorrow.
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Full-time: Australia 1-2 Ecuador
Ecuador exact their revenge, running out deserved winners.
90+4 mins: Bos tries to go alone but he’s checked and has to pass infield. O’Neill goes long, Ecuador don’t deal with it and Degenek can cross from the byline. The first ball is headed clear, then the second from McGree. Not much happening for the Socceroos.
90+2 mins: Australia don’t know whether to try to play through the lines or lump the ball forward. Ecuador are happy to sit off and allow the home defence to die of indecision.
90 mins: If it is, it’s a limp ending with a slow loopy cross headed clear easily.
Five minutes of injury time still to go.
89 mins: Some rare sloppy defending from Ecuador but Tilio can’t capitalise. McGree is then suffocated as he tries to dribble through the box. Before Caicedo is very belatedly booked for a wild challenge on Irvine. That was cynical, dangerous, and yellow at the very least for a player who should already have been booked an age ago. Is this Australia’s one final chance?
86 mins: Ecuador are running out the clock expertly. There’s still plenty of feeling in this too.
84 mins: Tilio ups the pace with a dart in from the right that comes out of the night sky like a shooting star. He’s felled professionally. Free-ki… what!? This referee is tripping. Not the first abundantly clear offence he’s missed this evening. And now he books two Ecuadorians, one for an infringement he didn’t even blow for a foul about five minutes ago, then another for time wasting over a throw-in. Bonkers.
82 mins: Australia are enjoying a decent spell of attacking pressure, mainly down their left, with Bos and Kuol to the fore, but Ecuador have plenty of bodies back and hold their line.
80 mins: Lovely control and skill from Bos on the left but his threaded ball just evades Cummings in the box. Apologies for the delay between posts. I was crafting an entry about Jackson Irvine comprised mostly of Lou Reed / Velvet Underground song titles. But now I’m beginning to see the light.
76 mins: Estrada comes on for the very tasty Rodriguez, while Arreaga replaces Preciado, who leaves the field on a stretcher following an innocuous collision with Kuol. It looked initially like cramp, but perhaps it’s something more serious?
75 mins: Bos has been bright on debut at left-back. He doesn’t look overawed by the occasion.
73 mins: Now they have their lead, Ecuador have relinquished their territorial advantage and look happy to see out the result with plenty of bodies behind the ball.
71 mins: A rare midfield win for Australia affords Tilio space to run into, but like Wile E Coyote running off a cliff the speedster runs too fast in the wrong direction and the counter breaks down.
69 mins: Preciado again sees the ball in the final third but his cross-cum-shot is neither nowt nor summat. There are more goals in this for the visitors.
Cummings and Kuol replace Borrello and Goodwin.
67 mins: Ecuador continue to push and threaten with Preciado down the right. They have taken complete control of midfield as Australia’s early burst fades into second-half fatigue and incoherence.
GOAL! Australia 1-2 Ecuador (Pacho, 65)
It’s been coming. Somoza with the outswinging corner from the right. The giant Pacho leaps highest at the near post and he angles his header just inside the far post. Textbook set-piece. The South Americans deservedly in front.
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63 mins: Ecuador haven’t given Australia a sniff this half, and when they threaten to break down the left Hincapie deals with the threat with authority. Australia keep the ball in dangerous territory from the throw-in and Degenek lets fly from 30 yards that Galindez makes a meal of.
Tilio and Rowles come on for Deng and Metcalfe, probably Australia’s two biggest disappointments on the night.
61 mins: Ecuador are building. Caicedo bursts from midfield and into the box but he can’t find Rodriguez with the square pass and Australia smuggle the ball clear.
60 mins: Australia enjoy some rare possession with Bos and Goodwin linking up on the left, but when it comes to nought three gold jerseys hammer into Preciado, who looks bewildered by the treatment.
Crowd is 27,103 at #AUSvECU
— Joey Lynch (@joeylynchy) March 28, 2023
58 mins: Rodriguez is almost in again! Not for the first time tonight Deng doesn’t deal with the through-ball and it requires Gauci to rush from his line and disrupt the attack.
56 mins: Ecuador have grown into the contest from midway through the first half. Now they appear very much in the ascendancy with Australia unable to work the ball through the lines in possession and finding themselves on the back foot repeatedly.
54 mins: A big moment for Jordy Bos with the local left-back making his international debut in place of Aziz Behich. The bloodied Cam Devlin is also replaced by Aiden O’Neill.
Goal! Australia 1-1 Ecuador (Estupinan, 52)
Ecuador’s captain makes no mistake from the spot, sending Gauci the wrong way and dabbing the ball straight up the guts. Then there’s one of those hilarious and unnecessary melees when Estupinan tries to gather the ball for a quick restart, only to be denied by Degenek. Handbags fly. And this is a friendly!
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Penalty!
Right on cue! NOW he turns up… And rightly so. The strong, pacey Rodriguez gives Deng twisted blood before hitting the deck for a clear cut spot kick.
50 mins: This referee has been on another plane of existence most of the night, and he demonstrates a total disregard for his role yet again with Goodwin upended in midfield with the ball nowhere in sight.
48 mins: Very willing start to the second half, but not much quality. Plenty of throw-ins, garryowens, and shoulder-to-shoulder challenges.
46 mins: Back underway in Melbourne.
The teams are making their way out of the tunnel ready for the second 45.
Half-time: Australia 1-0 Ecuador
For 20 minutes that was terrific high octane fun, featuring a Brandon Borrello goal, and a couple of superb saves from debutant Joe Gauci. Less to write home about in the following 25 as Ecuador found their feet. It was willing throughout, much to the displeasure I’m sure of some nervous club managers.
45 mins: The board goes up with three minutes of stoppage time displayed as McGree goes down in the box for a stonewall penalty – that isn’t given! The Australian brought a looping ball to ground, pushed it around the defender, went to chase after it only to be blocked from doing so.
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42 mins: Franco again threatens, from much closer range this time, but the ball is smuggled away at the near post after a dangerous cross from Estupinan. Devlin is then penalised for putting Caicedo on the deck, again. That has been a ding-dong battle.
40 mins: Franco drills wide from long range after Australia fail to get the ball safely from defence into midfield. It’s all a bit harum scarum and lacking in composure at that end of the pitch.
38 mins: Australia haven’t looked much chop playing out from the back. There isn’t much quality in possession or patterns of play. However, in broken field and applying the press they look aggressive, focussed and very threatening. There is an old fashioned hunger to the performance, especially from the front five.
36 mins: Somoza again fails to do the business. After good work on the left by Estupinan the No 10 dwells on his shot from inside the D and Deng charges down and behind for a corner.
34 mins: Irvine just whacks a bloke from behind in midfield, takes ball and all, and sets McGree free down the left, but his cross is deflected away from the predatory Metcalfe. This has been a very robust half.
32 mins: More contact, more concern for a Socceroo, this time Wright who comes off second best in a mid-air collision with Estupinan. That was a heavy fall, but the Rotherham United loanee is good to continue.
30 mins: Devlin is back into the fray, and immediately upended by Caicedo. The latter is then central to a beautiful move down the right that ends with Preciado cutting the ball back to Somoza, who lashes a very good opportunity into upper tier of seating at the Lockett End. He should have done much better.
28 mins: Devlin is up and bandaged but there is blood all over his shirt and the physio is holding a rag to the midfielder’s face that’s gone from white to claret.
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26 mins: I spoke too soon. Australia up the intensity of their press and win three turnovers in quick succession. Metcalfe can’t capitalise from the first, and by the last, Devlin has his right eyebrow split open when he slides in and collects the knee of Estupinan in the process. That looked gruesome.
25 mins: After 20 or so minutes of quite frantic fare, things have settled down.
23 mins: Gauci again! Soroza with the through-ball, Rodriguez too quick and too strong for Deng, but for the second time tonight he can’t beat Gauci one-on-one. The young keeper saves smartly again from the corner, with a header straight in his direction.
Impressive start from the Socceroos. The front five is full of high-intensity, tactically flexible players who are pressing and counter-pressing excellently. That is really troubling Ecuador.
— AussieScout (@scout_aussie) March 28, 2023
21 mins: Caicedo has been busy in the opening exchanges, and he knows he’s in a proper battle. Despite being one of the leading midfielders in the Premier League he has committed a stack of fouls already and found himself hassled whenever he receives possession. No questioning either side’s commitment to this “friendly”.
19 mins: That was a terrific swift direct goal. Arnold has conditioned his team to go forward at all times, and to do so as fast as possible. After outmuscling Caicedo in midfield they try to repeat the trick with Irvine once again critical, but this time the finish from Metcalfe is poor.
GOAL! Australia 1-0 Ecuador (Borrello, 16)
Australia take the lead, and it’s the South Australia connection that delivers! Irvine breaks free down the left, Goodwin takes over through the middle and his right-footed effort crashes against the post and straight to Borrello to guide into the empty net.
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14 mins: Australia string a few passes together and look dangerous until McGree’s through-ball is cutout. However, it’s almost as though that’s part of Graham Arnold’s fiendish plan because the Socceroos look most dangerous with their rapid counter-press. They soon nick the ball from Ecuador’s defence but Irvine is now awarded a free-kick after being bundled over on the edge of the box.
Socceroos starting with Degenek at right back with Deng central. Devlin as a deep six with McGree and Irvine ahead of him. Metcalfe playing on the right wing. #AUSvECU
— Joey Lynch (@joeylynchy) March 28, 2023
11 mins: There are turnovers aplenty all over the field with the ball pinging from side to side at speed. Twice Australia get away with conceding possession, the latter, by Behich in his own box, forces Gauci into another save, this time from Preciado.
9 mins: This game is being played refreshingly briskly and with no shortage of physicality. Both sides try to exploit broken play, but it’s the vision of Goodwin that almost opens the game with a sweeping crossfield ball that’s cut out well. Australia continue to push and eventually the cross is slung over for Irvine to glance wide.
7 mins: McGree is caught in possession and loses the ball in midfield, leaving a foot in on Caicedo for good measure. Rodriguez is alert to the opportunity, but Somoza’s snapshot is charged down by Deng.
5 mins: Joe Gauci, take a bow son! On debut, the young keeper shows his worth on the international stage, diving low to his left to tip Rodriguez’s effort around the post with the Ecuador striker bearing down on goal. La Tri caught the Australian defence napping from a throw-in but the No 8 could not find the back of the net.
3 mins: And now a couple of sorties from the home side with the high press that worked so well on Saturday again executed with devilment. On the first occasion McGree, Metcalfe, Goodwin and Irvine linked up well but it’s all a bit hurried. Then Borello has a sniff, and from the resulting corner McGree slashes miles over.
1 min: Ecuador enjoy some neat early touches but Franco can’t keep the ball in at the byline.
Kick-off!
We’re underway at Marvel Stadium!
Andrew Howe, Australian football’s guardian of the stats, has dropped this banger @AndyHowe_statto.
Tonight is the first time four Adelaide-born players have started together for Australia (Borrello, Gauci, Goodwin, McGree). Three started together in October 2000 (Paul Agostino, John Aloisi, Tony Vidmar), while Aloisi, Aurelio & Tony Vidmar started a few times together late 1990s.
Following the Welcome to Country, there’s a minute’s silence to commemorate the life of Socceroo cap no 198, Manfred Schaefer, who died today.
The teams are out on the pitch, Australia led by Jackson Irvine in gold jerseys, green shorts and white socks, Ecuador shepherded by Pervis Estupiñán in navy shirts, white shorts and navy socks.
The roof is closed tonight at Marvel Stadium, which may go some way to retaining the noise from what appears to be an underwhelming crowd. I’m not sold on this idea of a “homecoming” tour, but then, I am a curmudgeon.
Kick off, coming right up… #AUSvECU #Socceroos pic.twitter.com/gZdlAueTLA
— Subway Socceroos (@Socceroos) March 28, 2023
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Opta have furnished us with some stats.
Australia have scored three goals in each of their two previous men’s internationals against Ecuador, picking up a win and a loss from those two fixtures including a 3-1 win when these teams met four days ago.
This will be just the second time in the last five years that Australia have faced the same team in two consecutive men’s internationals; each of the last three times it’s occurred the Socceroos have won the second of the two games.
Ecuador have lost their last two men’s internationals in succession after having lost only one of their 17 previous games as a team (W6 D10); they’ve not lost three straight games since June 2021.
Australia have conceded more shots at goal than they’ve made in each of their last five men’s internationals after having made at least as many shots as their opposition in nine of their 11 games prior; they were outshot 10-12 in their last game against Ecuador.
Awer Mabil (Australia) has scored one goal in each of his last three starts for the Socceroos in men’s internationals, including one goal in the Socceroos’ last game against Ecuador.
Back to Jackson Irvine – he has a tattoo of Lou Reed from the cover of Transformer on his left arm. I had a long think the other day of inking something David Bowie related on my person. Maybe the Aladdin Sane lightning bolt (not on my face). Good idea?
It’s been a lovely autumnal day here in Melbourne so atmospheric conditions will be perfect at Marvel Stadium in the city’s docklands. However, we’re into the early rounds of the AFL season (and not long out of the venue being used for cricket’s Big Bash League) so it’s anyone’s guess how the pitch plays, or what ghostly markings may remain on the turf.
In unrelated news, I’m wearing in some new winter boots tonight, fresh out of the box. Got to give them some time indoors to mould to your feet before they see combat.
Alex Robertson making his international debut the other day gives me a very rare opportunity to say “I told you so”. Here I am back in 2020 earmarking the son (and grandson) of a gun for greatness, be it for Australia, England, Scotland, or Peru.
Jackson Irvine will captain Australia for the first time tonight. The 63rd skipper of the Socceroos, and first genuine hipster. Here he is mentioning Nick Cave and Tom Waits inside 30 seconds of a profile.
Ecuador XI
Five changes for La Tri, including a revamped front three, with Hernán Galindez, William Pacho, Kevin Rodriguez, Alan Franco and Junior Somoza all getting a participation badge.
🔥 Este es el once inicial de #LaTri 🇪🇨 para su partido 🆚 @Socceroos
— La Tri 🇪🇨 (@LaTri) March 28, 2023
Gracias a @gatoradeecuador #HidratadorOficial de nuestra Selección⚽ #VamosLaTri💛💙❤️ pic.twitter.com/KQW5JvICNt
Australia XI
Loads of changes from the World Cup-ish XI that started on Saturday. In come Thomas Deng, Connor Metcalfe, Bailey Wright, Brandon Borrello, Riley McGree, and Cameron Devlin, while there’s a debut in goal for Joe Gauci.
It’s fair to say this is an experimental line-up – and why not? Fans of cohesive champagne football might prefer to dip into YouTube highlights of Brazil, circa 1982.
STARTING XI 🗒
— Subway Socceroos (@Socceroos) March 28, 2023
Team news is IN for tonight's match against Ecuador in Melbourne.
Congratulations to @JoeGauci46, who is set to become Socceroo #631 🧤
🆚 @LaTri
⚽ Kick off 7.30pm (AEDT)
🏟 Marvel Stadium, Melbourne
📺 Live on @10BoldAU #AUSvECU #Socceroos pic.twitter.com/7MRokwD0vc
Preamble
Hello everybody and welcome to live coverage of Australia v Ecuador from Marvel Stadium in Melbourne. Kick-off in the second of this international break double header is 7.30 pm AEDT.
Here’s what happened when these sides drew swords on Saturday.
Here’s some context to the brace of friendlies.
Here’s why tonight could be a glimpse of a bright future for Australian football.
And, finally, here’s why there will be some unfamiliar names on display in green and gold.
I’ll be back shortly with more build-up. In the meantime, feel free to send me an email or fly a tweet to @JPHowcroft.
