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Australia v UAE 2017: Ugly win, but Australia breathes life into direct-route hope

Michael Cockerill

Back on track. Just.

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Socceroos seal crucial World Cup qualifier

The Australian Socceroos have sealed a crucial 2-0 World Cup qualifying win against UAE

A win is a win, and boy didn't the Socceroos need this one. Ugly? You bet. Priceless? Absolutely. After four straight draws had stalled the World Cup qualifying campaign, and at least partly deflated the Ange Postecoglou aura, beating United Arab Emirates has restored belief, and boosted optimism.

Australia don't lose World Cup matches at home – just three defeats in 63 matches stretching back to 1969 – so having two of the remaining three matches on home soil means the road to Russia might be the direct route after all. Next up is Saudi Arabia in June, and after this win the momentum is back. Not the mojo, necessarily, but that's the fine detail. Postecoglou will never say it, but this time the result was all the mattered.

A goal in each half, both from set pieces, got the job done. But it wasn't until Matthew Leckie's header powered into the net with just over 10 minutes remaining that a Socceroos bench on the edge of their seats could afford to relax. In between times the UAE probed and prodded the sweet spot of Australia's tactical weakness – the gaps outside the back three. With Omar Abdulrahman pulling the strings, a goal seemed inevitable. But through effort and good fortune, it didn't arrive.

If Postecoglou's desire with his new set-up is to control the midfield, this was another false start. If the plan is to profit from the power and energy of his wingers, it's also a work in progress. Brad Smith and Leckie did see plenty of ball in advanced areas. Their challenge is to work out what to do with it.

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But if is one huge positive to emerge from the double-header against Iraq and the UAE, it's the arrival of Jackson Irvine as a player of international pedigree. The scorer of the first goal was the best player in green and gold. The new system seems complicated, but Irvine makes it look simple.

 Whether the shape suits his game, or he's simply a quick learner, hardly matters. What counts is that he's looking the part. Not for the first time in the campaign, a platform was laid early. Irvine's thumping header from a Brad Smith corner eventually crossed the line, and the Socceroos had the advantage. But this is not a team which exudes confidence, nor generates it. Leads were squandered against Thailand and Iraq, so there was no great level of expectation. But at least there was hope.

At kick-off, the focus on Postecoglou's decision to make four changes to the side that had toiled hard on a demanding surface last week in Tehran was largely on the outfield players. Trent Sainsbury, James Troisi and Brad Smith all got their chance in the 3-4-3 formation which has been causing so much angst. But as it turned out, it was the coach's call to re-instate Mat Ryan at the expense of Mitch Langerak in goals which proved the most astute.

Langerak's shot-stopping efforts against Iraq were exemplary, but what Ryan brings to the table is exactly what the team needs as it tries to bed down the new system. Quick across the ground, and good with his feet, Ryan is the prototype sweeper-keeper, and didn't the Socceroos need him. 

Again the vulnerability to the long ball was a constant concern, but Ryan's positioning, speed, and control allowed him to rescue his team on several occasions. The break arrived with the home team clinging to the lead, but without a great deal of comfort.