Subway Socceroos secure Soccer Ashes with comfortable New Zealand win | Football Australia
Mitchell Duke’s shot deflected off Harry Souttar for a quick opener before Jackson Irvine scored off the bench to seal the result.
New Zealand had a promising start to the match, putting Australia under pressure, eager to earn an opening goal.
Australia weathered this early storm and took the lead 13 minutes in. A left-sided delivery to the back post was headed back across goal by Alessandro Circati, finding Duke whose effort skimmed off Souttar and hit the net.
The Socceroos nearly doubled their lead 12 minutes later when Jordan Bos lined up a curler from the left edge of the box that New Zealand goalkeeper Michael Woud palmed away.
New Zealand had a chance half an hour in when Bill Tuiloma’s cross from the right found Chris Wood centrally - the forward forcing Mathew Ryan into some sharp glove work.
Bos continued to provide a threat in forward areas for Australia down the left and found Martin Boyle 37 minutes in, who turned it home but was flagged offside.
Australia went into halftime with a narrow lead over their opponents and put the pressure on soon after the restart.
Winger Bos had another shot just after halftime, but this one flew well wide of the right post.
The Aussies came forward again in the 53rd minute, with Massimo Luongo slipping Connor Metcalfe into the box, whose effort was repelled by Woud.
Chances kept coming for Australia; just two minutes later, Boyle raced in behind one-on-one with Woud, however, the goalkeeper stayed big to prevent the Socceroos’ second.
The side were almost left to rue those missed chances 64 minutes in when Tuiloma’s free-kick sailed narrowly over the bar for the All Whites.
Craig Goodwin looked to make an instant impact a couple of minutes later when his deflected shot fell
Read on footballaustralia.com.au
