Agency :
A masterful performance from Tom Rogic inspired the Socceroos to a 4-0 win over Vietnam in Melbourne, ensuring Australia stay in the race for an automatic World Cup qualifying spot.
Rogic was in brilliant form at Celtic under Ange Postecoglou and after missing the November window through injury, scored one goal and teed up another for Melbourne local Jamie Maclaren.
Craig Goodwin and Riley McGree scored their first Socceroos goals off the bench in the second half to ensure Australia snapped a three-game winless run to remain in touch with leaders Saudi Arabia and Japan in Group B.
Assistant coach Rene Meulensteen took the reins in Graham Arnold’s COVID-19 enforced absence.
Arnold had been due to finish his quarantine period on Thursday but didn’t clear the required protocols to attend and a Football Australia spokesman said he would be assessed daily as to whether he could travel to Oman for the February 2 qualifier.
The change of voices on the sideline seemingly didn’t faze Rogic, who was involved in everything in an electrifying first half, and looked to have rifled Australia into the lead inside 20 seconds, sending the AAMI Park crowd of 27,740 into raptures.
But after a VAR referral, referee Ko Hyung-jin ruled an offside Jackson Irvine had interfered with Vietnam goalkeeper Bui Tan Truong.
From there, Australia’s creative moments were few and far between until the commanding Rogic helped deliver the breakthrough on the half-hour mark.
The playmaker lofted a cross towards Maclaren, who on his first start since June, slipped unmarked between two defenders to power home a bouncing header.
Two minutes into stoppage time, Mathew Leckie slipped a pass through to Rogic who coolly double Australia’s lead.
To the delight of the large and vocal Vietnamese contingent, the visitors burst out of the break, with Pham Tuan Hai lashing a shot just wide minutes after the restart.
Ryan made a reflex save to deny Nguyen Cong Phuong in the 62nd, then four minutes later, Nguyen Thanh Chung headed a close-range effort over the bar.
Ryan then turned provider, hoofing a long ball into the path of Goodwin, who, six minutes after entering the fray, coolly chipped Bui Tan Truong to settle Australia’s nerves.
Four minutes later, Goodwin teed up McGree for the young gun to cut onto his right and lash home, rounding out a successful first Socceroos game in Melbourne since December 2017.
With Aziz Behich unavailable, Sydney FC youngster and Olyroo Joel King started at left-back in his first cap, while Melbourne City sensation Marco Tilio received a late debut off the bench.
