‘We lost control’ – Australia coach Ange Postecoglou

The Socceroos have suffered a setback, going down to Jordan 2-0 in the 2018 World Cup qualifiers, leaving the Middle Eastern nation to claim top spot in Group B.

“All the players are well motivated, well focused to win the match tomorrow and get the three points”.

“It is the second time Jordan beat Australia in World Cup qualifying, with their previous win coming in 2012”.

Luongo, the player of the tournament as Australia won the Asian Cup on home soil in January, was adamant the Socceroos would make it through to the next round. They launched attacks from deep, opening Australia up from the flanks after 35 minutes. Five minutes from fulltime midfielder Hamza Aldaradreh scored from the breakaway to bring up the final score and take Jordan to the top of the qualifying pool.

In Amman, as it was three years ago, there was to be no comeback for the Socceroos.

North Korea’s ideal record in World Cup qualifying came to an end Thursday after being held to a 0-0 draw by the Philippines.

On Friday morning the environment was electric, but in no way intimidating, and once the excruciatingly loud music system was turned off to allow play to start, the trumpets, drums, handclaps and chants dropped to the level of mere annoying.

But in the second half the Socceroos were caught napping by a few hit and hope long ball attacks.

Australia’s Daily Telegraph newspaper described the Jordanian national team as a spirited team. The Socceroos came close after Mooy’s long-range shot off a rebound from his own set piece was stopped by keeper Amer Shafi.

“We won’t steer away from where we’re tying to go with our football, it’s just we might be a bit more cautious, we know what can hurt us now”.

“I can tell you I have a good feeling”, Put said.

“We’re not the finished product, we haven’t said we are and we’ve got a lot of improvement in us”, Postecoglou. Unfortunately we didn’t adjust and we conceded.

Chasing the game, Postecoglou threw on forwards Nathan Burns, Tim Cahill and Tomi Juric – replacing two midfielders and defender Bailey Wright – without finding a goal. And this is a different Aussie side to 2012, one much better prepared and clear on how they play under Postecoglou.

Milligan also refuted any suggestions that a boisterous and hyped-up 17,000 crowd at Amman’s worldwide Stadium had got under the Socceroos’ skins, as a collective lethargy appeared to grip a line-up which lacked the imagination or craft to deal effectively with its bogey team.

“I don’t know if he meant the pass that’s led to the penalty and there was a foul in the second goal but I’m not taking that away from them, it was a goal”.