Socceroos coach Graham Arnold remains adamant his team is “overachieving” at the Asian Cup amid questions about patchy form and a lack of goals, and singled out rookie striker Kusini Yengi for praise after Australia’s 1-1 draw with Uzbekistan in its final pool match.
The point gained at Al-Janoub Stadium was enough for the Socceroos to top Group B and secure an easier round-of-16 clash on Sunday night against one of the best four third-ranked group teams to advance to the knockout stages.
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However, for the third match in succession, the Australians struggled in attack, with Arnold lamenting the lack of a cutting edge in the final third of the pitch.
“We played some good combination football, we played some good attacking football, but it’s the last pass, and it’s the last maybe cut back or finish … that’s down to the individual,” Arnold said.
“The individual needs to put them in the back of the net – I can’t do that.”
The Socceroos needed a dubious penalty – converted by Martin Boyle – to score against Uzbekistan.
The spot kick came in the dying stages of the first half after Yengi – perhaps a surprise choice as the starting replacement for injured centre-forward Mitch Duke ahead of Bruno Fornaroli – charged his way into the Uzbekistan penalty area and cut the ball back into the path of Riley McGree, who should have scored but failed to hit the target.
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However, the Socceroos earnt a reprieve when Japanese referee Yusuke Araki checked video footage – on the recommendation of the VAR – to determine whether the ball had touched the trailing arm of Uzbekistan midfielder Odiljon Hamrobekov as he slid past Yengi in attempting to stop the 25-year-old forward’s progress.
Araki changed his mind and awarded the penalty, which in the end proved crucial as Uzbekistan – who would have topped the group with a win – scored in the second half through substitute Azizbek Turgunboev.
“Of course we can do things better, but when you’ve only had them (the squad) for about two, three weeks to get them sorted out and when we’ve got to play games as well, it’s always about that culture and commitment the boys give that is very good,” Arnold said.
“Do you know how hard it is to get 26 players together who play all around the world in different competitions? They’re coached in completely different ways.
“We have great team culture and mateship. When the energy is high and the boys are good mates, you can overachieve, and that’s what we’re doing.”
Arnold made five change to the team that started in last Thursday’s 1-0 win over Syria.
“We used these three group games to look at players.” he said.
“We’re creating more and more depth, but sometimes the fact is that certain players haven’t played with certain players.”
They include Portsmouth marksman Yengi, who made just his fourth appearances for the Socceroos and his first as starter
“I thought he was outstanding,” Arnold said.
“Overall, we’re getting better as we go. We came here at the start of the tournament to top the group and we’ve got the job done.
“We move forward now, one game at a time and see who our next opponent is.”