Australia got the perfect preparation for their Asian Cup 2024 campaign with a 2-0 friendly win against Bahrain in Abu Dhabi on Sunday morning (AEDT).
With the main event starting in Qatar for the Socceroos next Saturday night (AEDT), Graham Arnold's side enjoyed a solid hitout with Mitch Duke's header sealing the win after an own goal from Bahrain's Amine Benaddi at Baniyas Stadium in the UAE.
The green and gold will begin their Asian Cup campaign against India on January 13 at 10:30pm (AEDT), with group games against Uzbekistan and Syria to follow.
Socceroos earn win against physical Bahrain
Arnold picked a strong side for the exhibition match with only a few starting positions likely still up for grabs.
📋 Gethin Jones makes his #Socceroos debut, while Sam Silvera earns a maiden start.
— Subway Socceroos (@Socceroos) January 6, 2024
🇧🇭 v 🇦🇺 - 7.1.24, 1:00am AEDT
📱💻📺 Live on Paramount+#BHRvAUS #Socceroos #DifferentBreed pic.twitter.com/s9B06Gr4qa
Right winger Sammy Silvera earned his first Socceroos start on the wing, as did Welsh-born right-back Gethin Jones - with both aiming to impress the manager.
However, Australia struggled to break down a plucky Bahrain side, who defended deep, with physicality and looked to counter relentlessly.
It took an unfortunate own goal to break the deadlock with the Socceroos' best move of the match resulting in Benaddi deflecting Craig Goodwin's cross into his own net in the 35th minute.
Our dominance rewarded with a fortuitous own goal ⚽
— Subway Socceroos (@Socceroos) January 6, 2024
🎥 @10FootballAU#BHRvAUS #Socceroos #DifferentBreed pic.twitter.com/fgpwxRXDfP
Despite having most of the possession, Australia couldn't further add to the scoreline in the first half with the deep Bahrain defence proving hard to break down.
But a brilliant Socceroos move initiated by Aiden O'Neill secured the second goal in the 61st minute and a comfortable scoreline.
O'Neill floated a perfect deep cross to Goodwin at the back post, who nodded the ball across goal, with Duke on the spot to head it into the empty net.
How we doubled our advantage 👇@aidenoneill98 ➡️ @craig_goodwin11 ➡️ @mitchduke8 🥅⚽
— Subway Socceroos (@Socceroos) January 6, 2024
🎥 @10FootballAU #BHRvAUS #Socceroos #DifferentBreed pic.twitter.com/dSMpoQ4IyF
Interestingly, Arnold only made six subs across the second half with Portsmouth forward Kusini Yengi given a run out at striker ahead of Bruno Fornaroli, while previously-injured attackers Riley McGree and Marco Tilio were given match-time.
Kye Rowles was also brought on in what appears to be a straight shootout with Cameron Burgess for the second centre-back position alongside Harry Souttar.
Socceroos AFC Asian Cup 2024 26-man squad
- Mat Ryan [GK] (AZ Alkmaar, Netherlands)
- Joe Gauci [GK] (Adelaide United, Australia)
- Lawrence Thomas (Western Sydney Wanderers, Australia)
- Harry Souttar (Leicester City, England)
- Kye Rowles (Hearts, Scotland)
- Cameron Burgess (Ipswich Town, England
- Nathaniel Atkinson (Hearts, Scotland
- Thomas Deng (Albirex Niigata, Japan)
- Jordy Bos (Westerlo, Belgium)
- Aziz Behich (Melbourne City, Australia)
- Lewis Miller (Hibernian, Scotland
- Gethin Jones (Bolton, England)
- Keanu Baccus (St Mirren, Scotland)
- Aiden O'Neill (Standard Liege, Belgium)
- Jackson Irvine (St Pauli, Germany)
- Connor Metcalfe (St Pauli, Germany)
- Riley McGree (Middlesbrough, England)
- Patrick Yazbek, (Viking FK, Norway)
- Craig Goodwin (Al Wehda, Saudi Arabia
- Martin Boyle (Hibernian, Scotland)
- Sam Silvera (Middlesbrough, England)
- Marco Tilio (Celtic, Scotland)
- John Iredale (SV Wehen Wiesbaden, Germany)
- Kusini Yengi (Portsmouth, England)
- Bruno Fornaroli Melbourne Victory, Australia)
- Mitchell Duke (FC Machida Zelvia, Japan)
Socceroos AFC Asian Cup 2024 schedule
The Socceroos will be keen to better their disappointing quarterfinal exit at the Asian Cup in 2019, but the team has come on in leaps and bounds since then and will be targeting a return to the final, and a second Asian Cup title after their maiden win in 2015.
On paper, they have a straightforward group, taking on India in their opening clash, before facing off against Syria and then Uzbekistan to close out the group stages.
| Match | Date | Time | Stadium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia vs India | January 13 | 10:30 p.m. AEDT | Ahmed bin Ali Stadium |
| Australia vs Syria | January 18 | 10:30 p.m. AEDT | Jassim bin Hammad Stadium |
| Australia vs Uzbekistan | January 22 | 10:30 p.m. AEDT | Abdulla bin Khalifa Stadium |
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