Goals from Hamza Al-Dardour and Hassan Abdel Fattah have punished a sluggish Socceroos side to clinch a 2-0 win for Jordan in Amman on Friday morning.
Australia struggled to get going and never really threatened to score with the usual precision fans have come to expect from Ange Postecoglou’s team severely lacking.
A penalty from Al-Dardour and a controversial sealer from Fattah were enough to see the impressive Jordanians over the line.
Jordan’s second win over the Socceroos in five years sees them leapfrog their visitors into top spot in Group B.
Socceroos Player Ratings
Adam Federici – 6: Smartly tidied up a dangerous Jordanian counter half an hour in. Called into action again on the stroke of half time and pulled off excellent reflex save to retain parity. Could do little to keep out Fattah’s penalty or Al-Dardour’s strike.
Tarek Elrich – 5.5: Was caught in possession twice in 10 minutes in the opening half and did not offer a lot going forward.
Bailey Wright – 6: Did his job alongside Spiranovic in the heart of defence. An attacking move saw him sacrificed for Juric with a quarter of an hour to play.
Matthew Spiranovic – 4: His clumsy tackle in the area brought down Al-Dardour minutes after half time. Fattah dispatched the ensuing spot kick.
Jason Davidson – 6: Made a vital interception in the 10th minute. Jordan looked likely to score after a quick counter-attack had the Huddersfield Town man not intervened. Unlucky not to have been adjudged to have been fouled in the build-up to Jordan’s second.
Aaron Mooy – 5.5: Was the fulcrum of the Australia team and saw plenty of the ball but his usual crisp passing and set piece taking was lacking.
Mark Milligan – 5: A careless giveaway 30 minutes in went unpunished, largely thanks to the quick-thinking Federici. Could not penetrate Jordanian lines going forward.
Tom Rogic – 4.5: Tried his hand on numerous occasions in and around the box in the first half but with little effect. Struggled to have an influence until being withdrawn in favour of Tim Cahill with 25 minutes remaining.
Massimo Luongo – 4: Started out wide with little influence. Moved into his preferred central position in the second half but could not provide a spark.
Mathew Leckie – 4: Butchered a golden opportunity with 10 minutes to play by hitting a routine cross with too much elevation for three waiting teammates. Saw his best chance of the match saved well by Amer Shafi earlier in the match.
Tommy Oar – 5.5: Looked Australia’s biggest threat in the opening half on the left-hand side but none of his work eventuated into goals. Replaced by Nathan Burns at half time.
Substitutes
Nathan Burns – 4: His giveaway started the chain of events that led to Jordan’s opener and seemed to be out of sync with the rest of the attack.
Tim Cahill – 5: Did not get much of a look-in after coming on but forced a save from Shafi on 77 minutes.
Tomi Juric – N/A: Did not change the course of the game.
What are your thoughts? Let us know by dropping a comment below via our Facebook comment box. Make sure you follow us on Twitter @Outside90 and like us on Facebook.
