A loss against a lower-ranked nation is something the Socceroos hoped wouldn’t unfold in America, but had it not been for Patrick Beach’s “miraculous” first-half saves, the final score in the Socceroos’ 1-0 loss to Venezuela could have looked very different.
The 22-year-old wasted no time pushing his case to become a regular in the Socceroos squad led by Tony Popovic, making nine crucial saves to hold Venezuela to just one goal.
Beach, the first-choice goalkeeper for Melbourne City in the A-League, was selected ahead of former Socceroos captain Mat Ryan and Paul Izzo to wear the gloves.
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Shortly after Mo Toure fired two shots at rival goalkeeper Jose Contreras, the hosts gained clear control of the game and looked to put the Australian debutant to the test.
An easy set of passes around the outsides of the box set up the first shot on target for Venezuela, but the shot was easily saved by Beach.
Just five minutes later, Jesus Ramirez attempted to catch the young talent off guard, getting his head onto a long cross from Luis Balbo close to the net.
The Venezuelan striker was fully stretched as he made contact with the ball and sent it towards the right goalpost. It was then that Beach dove out and batted the ball over the top of the post and out of the field.
Patrick Beach makes a miracle save for Australia. Nine
“That is a miraculous save,” commentator Robbie Thomson said on Paramount +.
“This is why he has been called up to the Socceroos. He has been doing this week in, week out for Melbourne City in the A-League and in the Asian Champions League.
“He somehow managed to turn it up and over the crossbar, away from goal.”
“Look at that for a reaction save. Welcome to international football, young man,” former footballer Daniel McBreen added.
The effort continued to earn praise at the break, with former players noting that Beach looked to have settled in comfortably as an Australian goalkeeper.
Patrick Beach of Australia makes a save. Getty Images for Soccer Australi
In the first half, he also deflected another four shots, three of which were on target, away from the net. Venezuela only got one ball past him in the 38th minute.
“If not for Patrick Beach, we very well could’ve been two behind,” Alex Brosque, a Sydney FC great and 21-time Socceroos representative, said.
“Unbelievable. You can not understate how good this save is,” Bruce Djite added.
“He hasn’t had too much to do, but when he has, he has come up big.”
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Beach went on to face another four shots from the Venezuelans, who did not qualify for next year’s World Cup, in the final 45 minutes of the match.
Only one of those shots in that half was on target.
Beach is not the only goalkeeper to be put to the test on debut for Australia in recent months, with 30-year-old Paul Izzo also saving the day in the last international break.
Paul Izzo in action against Canada. Getty
Izzo also dethroned captain Mat Ryan, who was on the bench against Venezuela, to don the gloves in an international friendly match against Canada last month.
In that game, Izzo also impressed experts in what was a strong display leading into the World Cup.
As to which goalkeeper Popovic will ultimately pick to start at the World Cup, Ryan earns the favouritism, even though he has started life under Popovic as an unused sub.
“It is one thing to play well in friendlies, qualifiers … it is another thing to do it on the big stage,” Djite said.
“He has been there [the World Cup]. He gets the No.1 jersey for me.”
Mat Ryan in action with former club team, A.S Roma. Â NurPhoto via Getty Images
Djite then added his praise for the other goalkeepers fighting for the role.
“Izzo was fantastic against Canada, man of the match performance,” he said.
“Before that game, Popovic said it’s one thing for Izzo to play, it’s another to start while Ryan is on the bench. He did that.
“Patrick Beach – fantastic start to the season in the Champions League. He’s been phenomenal as well.
“(Joe) Gauci was brilliant in the early days of Popovic’s time, where we were talking about ‘is this a changing of the guard? Is Gauci the new number one keeper?’
“Maty Ryan has been solid when he’s had the opportunity, over a hundred caps for the Socceroos, heaps of experience. It’s great to see the goalkeepers doing so well.”
Ryan is still the official Socceroos captain and has made 10 appearances this season for Levante in La Liga.