Two-minute, two-goal blitz sparks critical win for Socceroos’ direct World Cup qualification hopes

Australia’s Socceroos took a major step towards direct 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification with a 5-1 win over a valiant Indonesia in Sydney on Thursday night.

With three games left in this phase of Asian qualifying, the Socceroos control their destiny and will sit outright second at the end of this matchday regardless of other results.

They travel to face China on Tuesday night before the final two matchdays in early June, hosting group leaders Japan and travelling to face Saudi Arabia, the latter shaping as a potential win-and-in showdown.

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Elsewhere in their group tonight, all-but-certain group winners Japan host Bahrain (9:35pm AEDT) and Saudi Arabia hosts China (Friday 5:15am AEDT).

A win over China for the Socceroos next week would make them warm favourites to qualify out of the group, and with Saudi Arabia to play away to Japan on the same matchday, a win for the Japanese would be almost as beneficial.

Getting all three points and boosting their already solid goal differential against Indonesia, who were third in the six-nation group coming into tonight, is a huge tick for Tony Popovic’s side.

However they could’ve easily been down 0-2 with the visitors – in front of a crowd which felt more like an Indonesian home game, such was their support – unable to capitalise on early golden opportunities, most notably a penalty which hit the woodwork.

That was before two Socceroos goals in two minutes, from their own penalty slotted by Martin Boyle and a one-on-one opportunity converted by Nishan Velupillay, giving the hosts a 2-0 lead totally against the run of play.

Jackson Irvine then capitalised on a packed goal mouth with consecutive close-range shots, slamming the ball home after it bounced back to him, for 3-0 with 34 minutes gone.

“It’s dreamland stuff for the Socceroos,” commentator Andy Harper said.

Lewis Miller headed one home in the 60th minute for 4-0 before the Indonesian fans were given a moment to celebrate with a late consolation goal from Ole Romenji.

Irvine added his second in the final minutes to only boost the Socceroos’ goal differential.

They were one of just two teams in their group with a positive differential at the start of the night – with the top two finishers to directly qualify for the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico.

Finishing third or fourth in the group would advance the Socceroos into the fourth round of AFC qualifying – which involves a pair of three-team groups with two nations to directly qualify, and another two advancing into a playoff.

Finishing fifth or sixth would eliminate them entirely.

AFC FIFA WORLD CUP QUALIFYING – GROUP C STANDINGS (After Australia def Indonesia)

1. Japan – 5-1-0, 16 pts (+20 goal difference) [To play Bahrain tonight]

2. Australia – 2-4-1, 10 pts (+5)

3. Saudi Arabia – 1-3-2, 6 pts (-3) [To play China overnight]

4. Bahrain – 1-3-2, 6 pts (-5) [To play in Japan tonight]

5. Indonesia – 1-3-3, 6 pts (-7)

6. China – 2-0-4, 6 pts (-10) [To play in Saudi Arabia overnight]

Australia’s remaining games: vs China in Hangzhou on March 25, vs Japan in Perth on June 5, vs Saudi Arabia away on June 10

Top two nations qualify directly for World Cup

Third and fourth enter fourth round of AFC qualifying

AUSTRALIA STARTING XI: Maty Ryan (GK), Lewis Miller, Jason Geria, Cameron Burgess, Kye Rowles, Aziz Behich, Aiden O’Neill, Jackson Irvine, Martin Boyle, Nishan Velupillay, Adam Taggart

Subs: Milos Degenek, Anthony Caceres, Kusini Yengi, Daniel Arzani, Brandon Borrello, Paul Izzo (GK), Jason Davidson, Kai Trewin, Tom Glover (GK), Fran Karacic, Ryan Teague, Craig Goodwin

Catch up on the match in our Match Centre!