Melbourne dey hot tonight as Socceroos play dem final match for Australia before World Cup. Awer Mabil score one goal wey make Australia win Curaçao 1-0 for AAMI Park. The match na part of FIFA Series friendly, and Australia don win two matches straight after dem beat Cameroon last week.
Mabil score for 23rd minute after mistake from Curaçao captain Leandro Bacuna. Kai Trewin collect the ball, pass give Deni Jurić, and Jurić touch am softly for Mabil wey chip am inside net. Na Mabil first goal for national team in three years, and im celebration show say im happy well well.
Curaçao try come back strong. Jeremy Antonisse get chance for 34th minute after nice pass from Bacuna, but Mat Ryan save am. For first half ending, Mabil almost score again but im shot hit post. Ajdin Hrustić get hamstring injury for that play and come out before half-time.
Coach Tony Popovic make five changes from Cameroon match. Young defender Lucas Herrington start again after good debut last week. Deni Jurić start as striker even though im no see plenty ball for last match. Popovic talk say im dey give different players chance before World Cup selection.
Curaçao na small Caribbean country wey qualify for World Cup for first time. Dem be smallest country by population wey ever qualify – just 150,000 people. Dem get nickname ‘Blue Wave‘ and many players born for Netherlands. Dem no be pushover team, dem show say dem sabi play ball tonight.
For second half, Australia control game more. Curaçao no create clear chances, and Australia defend well. The match end 1-0, and Socceroos fans celebrate dem team final appearance for home soil before World Cup.
Popovic talk after match say im dey happy with performance. “Every player wey dey here know say dem close to World Cup selection,” im talk. “Tonight na important test against different style of play.”
Australia go travel go North America for final preparations. Dem go play Mexico for 30th May as last warm-up match before World Cup start. FIFA deadline for final 26-player squad dey two months from now.
Some regular players no dey for this camp. Harry Souttar and Jackson Irvine no play, while Mo Toure dey injured. But Popovic say im no wan carry more than 30 players for pre-World Cup camp for USA.
Curaçao coach Fred Rutten talk say im team learn from match. “Australia na strong opponent,” im talk. “But we go use this experience for World Cup.”
The match attendance no full but fans wey dey make noise. Some fans complain about Australia new away kit wey debut tonight – coral and teal colors wey no resemble traditional green and gold.
World Cup group stage go start 13th June for Vancouver. Australia first match go be against either Turkey or Kosovo. The other teams for Australia group na Curaçao and one more team wey go qualify tomorrow.
For other World Cup qualifiers tomorrow, Italy must beat Bosnia-Herzegovina to avoid missing third straight World Cup. Italy currently number 12 for world ranking but dem struggle for qualification.
Mat Ryan keep clean sheet tonight and confirm im position as first choice goalkeeper. Im form for club side Levante dey good, and Popovic stick with im as captain.
Young players like Herrington and Jurić get another chance to impress. Popovic talk say im want see continuity from players wey get new positions. “Some boys dey play new position, so dem need time to adapt,” im add.
The match flow better than Cameroon game. Australia create more chances and control midfield better. Aiden O’Neill and Connor Metcalfe work hard for middle, while Aziz Behich provide width from left back.
Curaçao best chance come from Juninho Chong free kick wey almost trouble Australia defense. But overall, Australia defense organize well with Alessandro Circati and Kye Rowles solid for center.
As fans waka comot stadium tonight, reality dey set in. Next time Socceroos play for Australia go be after World Cup. The journey to North America don start, and every player dey hope say dem name go dey final list.
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