Australia are without Tom Rogic and Tomi Juric for their World Cup qualifier against Bangladesh on Tuesday.
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A first half hat-trick to evergreen striker Tim Cahill has helped the Socceroos to crush Bangladesh 4-0 in their World Cup qualifier in Dhaka on Tuesday night.
Australia’s cricketers had been due to play a two-Test series in Bangladesh in October but the tour was scrapped after a security alert was issued by officials.
Tensions also rose after a spate of killings of foreigners, policemen and a blast at a Shiite shrine that left two people dead – attacks claimed by Islamic state group.
Ahead of the match, all the shops and markets at and around the stadium were shut down, traffic was halted on key roads and each of about 20,000 spectators were body-searched before they were allowed to enter the stadium.
Just a small bit of housekeeping before we crack on – you can get me on the email address or twitter handle above throughout the evening if you fancy imparting any wisdom about the game, the Socceroos, football or life in general.
“Knowing what the boys have been through the last few days, both physically and mentally, we lost our focus and concentration in the second half”, Postecoglou told Fox Sports.
Cahill who turns 36 next month won a second consecutive start.
But in the same vein as coach Ange Postecoglou’s insistence that Australia’s performance warranted a 10-goal win instead of the 3-0 scoreline, Cahill was dispirited to have missed a few shots.
He opened the scoring in the sixth minute with a neat header, posted a scrappy goal in the 33rd and a tap-in in the 37th.
The hosts went into the break with 4-0 arrears and successfully managed to contain the Australians from making the difference bigger in the second half.
It was one of the toughest trips he has had to make with the Socceroos, and skipper Mile Jedinak is relieved the Bangladesh ordeal is over.
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The top four second-placed teams from across the eight qualifying groups will advance, and while Jordan are the second-best second-placed team, they could be leapfrogged by Uzbekistan, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait, who are all within three points and have a match in hand.
