Jackson Irvine has fired home for Australia in their clash with Ecuador.
The Socceroos are taking part on a 'Homecoming' with a double-header against the same opposition with the first game taking place right now at the Commbank Stadium in Sydney. It is the first outing for Graham Arnold's side since their stunning World Cup run that ended with defeat to Lionel Messi and Argentina - who went on to lift the trophy.
A host of Hearts and former Hibs stars are in the squad for the two games as well as 'Chief Vibes Officer' Martin Boyle who has jetted out to Australia to show his support and be with the national team in a move sanction by Lee Johnson in a bid to help lift his sprits as he continues his rehab from injury - with the attacker expected back ready for next season.
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Robbie Neilson's summer recruit Kye Rowles was named in the starting side with Hearts trio Nathaniel Atkinson, Cammy Devlin and Garang Kuol all on the bench alongside former Easter Road favourite Jason Cummings.
Irvine - who also had a spell at Celtic at the beginning of his career - was on hand to turn home in the 13th minute after Craig Goodwin's back post delivery was brilliantly cut back across the front of goal with the St Pauli man in the right place, at the right time to smash home much to the delight of the home crowd.
Ecuador levelled but the hosts have since went back in front in an entertaining first half of action for the Socceroos fans.
Speaking ahead of the game, Arnold said: "It's great to come back and the most most satisfying thing over the whole campaign was the fans back at home. Seeing what we saw in Qatar was just mind blowing.
"I'm getting goosebumps now talking about it, because you don't see any other sport get that. The final of the NRL World Cup was on nearly a week before our World Cup started and you didn't see that in the finals of the NRL World Cup. So you know, we're just about making the nation proud and happy. All I want to do is do that again and make them even happier if I can."
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