Key events
Show key events only
Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature
In the long run, the Socceroos will hope that they can look back at this game as a building block rather than something momentous in and of itself. They weren’t particularly good but they found a way to win, which is a skill in and of itself, and they looked like they were able to work on a few things.
Bos, in his first ‘Roos game in nine months, was a bright spark in the XI and the young substitutes provided a real bolt of energy off the bench – giving reason to be hopeful for the future.
The play of Toure, in particular, was impressive even before he set up Balard’s goal but the patience and poise he should in the build-up to providing the assist was first-class. He’s just 21 but, especially given that he’s playing regularly at Randers, he looks ready to shoulder a larger role.
Updated at 08.03 EDT
Full-time: Australia 1-0 New Zealand
Stop me if you’ve heard this one before. The Socceroos spent a lot of pinned back and lacking in inspiration and played some pretty ugly football at times but, ultimately, found a goal that has delivered them a result.
Max Balard’s 87th minute goal on debut ensures that Tony Popovic remains unbeaten as Socceroo boss and Australia remains in the box seat to retain the Soccer Ashes.
Updated at 07.49 EDT
90 Mins: Both sides create chances in the aftermath of the goal, which has provided a further jolt of energy after the substitutes.
ShareGoal! Australia 1-0 New Zealand (Balard 87′)
It’s Max Balard with a debut goal! After all of 120-odd seconds on the pitch!
But a massive amount of credit has to go to Toure. The striker, who has been Australia’s best since he came on, single-handily retains possession on the left and keeps an Australian attack alive before spearing a pass into the feet of Balard.
The midfielder then turns and places an effort into the bottom corner, giving the Socceroos the lead.
85 Mins: The Socceroos make another change as Teague makes way for Balard, who joins Izzo and Milanovic in making his debut tonight.
82 Mins: Almost Irankunda! Australia works the ball down the right and Miller does exceptionally to lunge forward and lift the ball to the top of the six-yard-box before it rolls out. Irankunda rises over his defender to meet it at the back post but his header goes over the bar.
81 Mins: Rufer wins up from range for the visitors but it’s always going wide and sails harmlessly out for a goal kick.
80 Mins: Milanovic makes a darting run central but his subsequent outside-of-the-boot pass sent central finds naught but defenders.
79 Mins: There will be no spectacular free kick from Irankunda, then; his attempt to dink the ball in easily cleared away by the Kiwis. I’ll tell the children.
78 Mins: Here we go, Irankunda has won a free kick. He’s standing over it but it would take something special from here.
78 Mins: 19,115 hardy souls have made the trip to Bruce Stadium for tonight’s game. Unfortunately, the football hasn’t done much to warm them up.
74 Mins: The Socceroo changes are official: Touré, Milanović, and Irankunda replace Hrustic, Boyle, and Metcalfe.
Singh, meanwhile, has been replaced by Finn Surman.
Updated at 07.22 EDT
73 Mins: Touré, Milanović, and Irankunda are all up and preparing to come on. Looks like a new frontline for the Socceroos.
70 Mins: De Vries can’t continue and, joined by Just, makes way for James McGarry and Ben Old.
Updated at 07.19 EDT
69 Mins: De Vries is down on the left flank for the All Whites and scoots over the touchline as the doctor makes his way over to him. Looks like he’ll need subbed off.
68 Mins: I promise I’m not being deliberately sparse with the updates, there’s just not been a lot to justify one in these past few exchanges.
A few Socceroo players are warming up on the touchline but nobody has the tracksuit off preparing to come on.
64 Mins: A nice turn from Boyle gets him facing goal and advancing towards the penalty area but he opts to cut the ball back rather than go himself and the pass is wayward.
62: Wood, Thomas, and Payne make way for the Kiwis, replaced by Callan Elliot, Alex Rufer, and Kosta Barbarouses. The most likely-looking goal scorer for either side departs.
61 Mins: An hour now gone at Bruce Stadium. If either of the coaches had planned substitutions, now is about the time you’d be expecting to see them.
60 Mins: Payne is back up and we’ve resumed play.
59 Mins: Bos and Payne both fly for a ball played down the right, with the latter copping a head knock in their resulting collision and needing treatment.
57 Mins: A threatening ball into the box just falls for Michael Boxall but the Australians converge around him and, led by Izzo, deflect his shot away for a comer that’s then cleared away.
56 Mins: A slip from the Kiwi defence allows Boyle to burst in behind but then the Hibs man himself slips over at the crucial moment, preventing him from getting a shot off!
55 Mins: McCowatt, having shaken of his knock, gets off a shot but Cameron Burgess gets across to block it away for a corner the Aussies, eventually, scramble away.
52 Mins: Metcalfe cleans up Callum McCowatt and gives away a free kick, with the Silkeborg attacker slow in getting back to his feet.
50 Mins: Metcalfe and Bos, their connection dating back to their time together in the Melbourne City academy, continue to combine on the left but they can’t create a scoring opportunity on this occasion.
49 Mins: The Kiwis have picked up where they left off and are doing the early running – Wood laying the ball off for Singh atop the box only for the midfielder to prove unable to pull the trigger.
Share2H Kick Off
We are back underway at Bruce Stadium.
Miller has replaced Silvera for the Socceroos, while O’Neill has replaced Yazbek.
Updated at 07.14 EDT
You might have noticed this series being referred to as the Soccer Ashes and be wondering why. Created back in 1923, they served as the prize during meetings between the Socceroos and All Whites until 1954, when they slipped into anonymity.
The titular ashes are the remains of cigars smoked by Australian captain Alex Gibb and New Zealand captain George Campbell following 1923 meeting. They were then placed into a special silver-plated razor case that was carried at the ANZAC landings at Gallipoli in 1915, which itself was then contained in a wooden casket built from a combination of New Zealand honeysuckle and Australian maple.
After being lost in 1954, they were then found 69 years later, when they were found in the garage of the former home of Australian Soccer Football Association (ASFA) chairman Sydney Storey.
It’s almost certain that Popovic will utilise all five substitutions available to him in the second-half, the question is what they’ll be.
Given that they’ve been amongst the Socceroos’ best, you’d be hesitant to take off Bos and Metcalfe on the left flank but, this being a friendly where, no matter what the coaches say, there are bigger things at play than the result, that might not mean much.
Certinaly, the Socceroos attack feels like it could use an injection of impetus from the likes of Milanović, Segacic, Touré, or Irankunda but who will it be? Likewise, the midfield feels like it could use a bit more drive and a bit more movement, especially when trying to play through the Kiwi press, but does that mean Balard? Or perhaps it’s the time for O’Neill to come on.
With Silvera copping a knock during the opening stanza he could be withdrawn for Miller as a precaution – lord knows that after Riley McGree’s injury issues Boro fans must already be pretty miffed with the Socceroos.
ShareShareHT: Australia 0-0 New Zealand
A first-half in which not a lot happened comes to a scoreless end. Bazeley will be the happier of the two coaches heading into the break as his Kiwis had more of the ball, more shots, and the best of the chances – with Izzo called into action on multiple occasions to deny Wood.
Indeed, the Nottingham striker has been slowly getting closer and closer to opening the scoring at Bruce Stadium and while this Socceroo side has a proven adeptness at absorbing pressure, their aren’t many strikers in world football right now that you’d want less to build into a game than the All White skipper.
For the hosts, you can see that they’re trying to execute certain patterns and movements in possession – Popovic highlighted their play with the ball as an area of focus for this window – but, being generous, it’s clear it’s still a work in progress. The Australian’s best moments have come when Bos is able to get on the ball and run at the Kiwis.
Updated at 06.45 EDT
45+ Mins: Multiple corners from the All Whites can’t break the Socceroos resistance and it’s cleared away.
45 Mins: Izzo with another big save to deny Wood! The New Zealand skipper receives a pass atop the box, opens up an angle and sends a well-struck effort towards the bottom corner, only for the keeper to get down low to his right and palm the attempt out for a corner.
43 Mins: Australia with a shot on target, their first of the game! The hosts work the ball forward and find Metcalfe at the top of the box, with his resulting shot stinging the palms of Crocombe.
Updated at 06.33 EDT
42 Mins: Australia don’t do much with the ball when they have it: pegged into their own half and eventually booting it long to give it back.
41 Mins: Yazbek brings down Singh for a free kick. It’s recycled short and after knocking it around their backline for a while… well the Kiwis have actually been knocking it around their backline for about two minutes now. No wait, they just turned it over when they attempted to go forward.
Updated at 06.37 EDT
37 Mins: Payne gets into a bit of space but his cross gets away from him and finds Izzo rather than intended recipient Wood. The Nottingham Forest striker may have been offside had it found him.
35 Mins: After mostly been ineffectual with implementing the patterns and movement they’ve worked on during training to this point, there’s a glimmer of promise from the Australians. Eventually, though, it peters out when Bos’ cross goes too close Max Crocombe and the Kiwi keeper claims.