When the Socceroos were led out by captain Lucas Neill at ANZ stadium on Tuesday night there was much talk he would never lead them out (or never walk out in the Green & Gold ) again.
The crowd of 83 000 were up and about early when striker Tim Cahill was given a golden opportunity by young gun Robbie Kruze in only the second minute of the match. Cahill struck the ball well but it was stopped by the Iraqi goalie as he dived backwards. Cahill was getting ready to run to the corner flag and celebrate when it came off his boot (and I think most of Australia were too).
There were certainly alot of promising signs headed into the half time break. Tommy Oar and Matt McKay set up alot of opportunites running down the left flank, while Robbie Kruze followed on from recent form creating corners and holding an end in the midfield. Some of the older men in the team were preventing opportunities from Iraq. Captain Lucas Neill and Mark Bresciano were intrumental down back, but still no goal for either team.
In the second half it was Iraq who got off to the great start, flying shots at old reliable Mark Schwartzer who calmly collected and kicked back in play.
Mark Milligan kept creating for the socceroos and Cahill had another shot in the box. A little wide.
0-0 still at Anz stadium and with only 35 minutes left to score Aussie coach Holger Osiek needed change in his attack. He brought on young star Tomas Rogic into the attack as this change saw Tommy Oar leave the field. Rogic straight away got things moving for Australia having 3 shots at goal in the first 2 minutes he was on. Two of the shots were well off target but at least he started some movement from the Socceroos.
Holger Osiek then took Brett Holman off and he was replaced by Achie Thompson. Archie tried to get past the Iraqi defence a few times but was blocked.
A few minutes later Holger subbed off Socceroos star striker Tim Cahill. Cahill wasn't happy to be sent off and everyone watching the game around the country didn't like Holger's decision aswell at first but when they who was jumping on the spot at the sideline some people changed thier minds. It was Australia's aireal threat, Josh Kennedy coming back from injury. Kennedy had been running around for just over six minutes when he bolted into the penalty box. Mark Bresciano had the ball on the right flank and saw Kennedy's run. He then sent a perfectally weighted cross onto the running head of and GOOOOOOOOOOOOOAL. Kennedy and all of his Socceroos teamates ran to the left corner post and all jumped on him.
The Socceroos fans sat nervously, hand in hand, shoulders around eachother as Iraq ran the ball forward. Oganovski performed a perfectly timed (and a bit risky) tackle in the box and Schwartzer mopped up.
The refferee blew his whistle (not that anyone around the country could hear it) and everyone went up. Australia had done the easy work, now they have to find their passports for their long awaited trip to Brazil.
Saturday 22 June 2013
Thursday 20 June 2013
Inspirational moment
This is my all time favourite you tube video. It is truly spine tingling when J mac hits his first three.
Saturday 15 June 2013
Tuesday 28 May 2013
Goodes Stands Proud
Sydney and Collingwood was the first game of the indigenous round and it didn't go down well. Indigenous round recognises aboriginal representation in the AFL and in Australian sport in general.
Sydney star and legend of the game Adam Goodes was racially abused late in the last term on Friday night. She called Goodes an 'ape' and he wasn't happy about it.The champion stood up to the girl, chest out as he pointed to the security guard. He then pointed at the girl and she was evicted from the ground by the guard.
Goodes stormed off the ground and pushed through down to the rooms. He didn't take any further part in the blockbuster after that.
The Swans sung the song with Goodes after their comfortable win over the Pies. The players had settled down but Goodes' stand certainly didn't. Collingwood president Eddie McGuire apologised to Goodes after the game and told him he would try to meet him with the girl so she could make-up with him in person. McGuire labelled the incident a 'despicable' act and said the person's age and sex was irrelevant, adding " there's no generation gap for idiocy." McGuire told press Saturday morning that this behaviour is definataly not permitted not just on indigenous round but any round.
"I'm spewing that it still exists in the game," Goodes said, "this is a major setback in indigenous sport and sport overall. I am appalled," he told papers on Saturday.
Sydney star and legend of the game Adam Goodes was racially abused late in the last term on Friday night. She called Goodes an 'ape' and he wasn't happy about it.The champion stood up to the girl, chest out as he pointed to the security guard. He then pointed at the girl and she was evicted from the ground by the guard.
Goodes stormed off the ground and pushed through down to the rooms. He didn't take any further part in the blockbuster after that.
The Swans sung the song with Goodes after their comfortable win over the Pies. The players had settled down but Goodes' stand certainly didn't. Collingwood president Eddie McGuire apologised to Goodes after the game and told him he would try to meet him with the girl so she could make-up with him in person. McGuire labelled the incident a 'despicable' act and said the person's age and sex was irrelevant, adding " there's no generation gap for idiocy." McGuire told press Saturday morning that this behaviour is definataly not permitted not just on indigenous round but any round.
"I'm spewing that it still exists in the game," Goodes said, "this is a major setback in indigenous sport and sport overall. I am appalled," he told papers on Saturday.
Monday 20 May 2013
Round 8
The round started off with the highly anticipated clash between West Coast and North Melbourne. The Roos came out firing scoring 6 goals to the Eagles 3 in the first term. West Coast couldn't seem to kick straight in the second quarter booting 7 behinds. North coach Brad Scott subbed off Majak Daw during the third quarter. At three quarter time the Roos only led by 4 points and we new we were in for a huge final term. West Coast small forward Josh Hill slotted 3 fourth quarter goals to give the Eagles some hope late in the last. With 35 seconds to go in the last term, West Coast kicked one into their forward 50. A pack formed and North Melbourne left Eagles danger man Nic Naitanui at the back. He rose above the North Melbourne defence to take the mark 30 metres out on a slight angle. Naitanui kicked the major after the siren for the Eagles fourth win of the season. Roos fans were upset after the game saying they had been robbed, blaming the umpires for their devastatingly close loss.
The Bombers had a shock loss to the Lions on Saturday arvo. Brisbane defender Brent Staker came back into the side after an injury had postponed him from playing. Staker kicked the winning goal, again in the final minute of a thrilling clash at Etihad Stadium. Dayne Zorko booted 3 for the Lions and Brendon Goddard had 30 plus possessions for the Dons.
Sam Mitchell and Jarryd Roughead played a pivotable role in the Hawks win over the Giants in Launceston. Roughead kicked 5 to cement a Hawks top spot coming into round 9.
Western Bulldogs young side have not had a good start to season 2013. Saturdays game against the Gold Coast Suns was no exception. At the main break the Dogs were up by a goal, but the Suns weren't going to give up at their home ground. Suns coach Guy McKenna must have given his boys a good old fashion spray at half time because after that they came out firing. The Suns led at three quarter time by 31 points. They left Bulldogs coach Brendon McCartney shaking his head and the Suns won the game comfortably.
The Saturday night games were both equally exciting with the Cats taking on the magpies and the Swans hosted the Dockers in Sydney. The Maggie's got off to a ripping first 10 minutes leading the cats by about 20 points. The Cats then came back, only trailing the Pies by two goals at the first break. The Cats then steadied later in the game leading the Magpies by two goals at the three quarter time break. Collingwood star Andrew Krakouer cleverly kicked through the winning goal for the pies for their fifth win of the year against the undefeated Cat attack.
Sydney and Fremantle. Yep, who would have guessed it. A draw! With seconds on the clock it was all tied up at 70 a piece. Michael Johnson kicked a long ball inside Freo's forward 50 only to be marked on the line by Sydney young gun, Sam Reid. The draw was the first of 2013.
Carlton's Heath Scotland, Andrew Walker and captain Marc Murphy all played milestone games in the Blues 18 point win over Port Adelaide.
Melbourne played with some grit in the first half against Richmond winning their first 1st quarter of the year. The Demons stayed with them in the second quarter but the Tigers were 34 point victors in the end.
St.Kilda travelled to Adelaide to take on the Crows for the twilight match but the inexperienced Saints uniform struggled to match with the Crows line up. St.Kilda losing the match by just under 7 goals.
The Bombers had a shock loss to the Lions on Saturday arvo. Brisbane defender Brent Staker came back into the side after an injury had postponed him from playing. Staker kicked the winning goal, again in the final minute of a thrilling clash at Etihad Stadium. Dayne Zorko booted 3 for the Lions and Brendon Goddard had 30 plus possessions for the Dons.
Sam Mitchell and Jarryd Roughead played a pivotable role in the Hawks win over the Giants in Launceston. Roughead kicked 5 to cement a Hawks top spot coming into round 9.
Western Bulldogs young side have not had a good start to season 2013. Saturdays game against the Gold Coast Suns was no exception. At the main break the Dogs were up by a goal, but the Suns weren't going to give up at their home ground. Suns coach Guy McKenna must have given his boys a good old fashion spray at half time because after that they came out firing. The Suns led at three quarter time by 31 points. They left Bulldogs coach Brendon McCartney shaking his head and the Suns won the game comfortably.
The Saturday night games were both equally exciting with the Cats taking on the magpies and the Swans hosted the Dockers in Sydney. The Maggie's got off to a ripping first 10 minutes leading the cats by about 20 points. The Cats then came back, only trailing the Pies by two goals at the first break. The Cats then steadied later in the game leading the Magpies by two goals at the three quarter time break. Collingwood star Andrew Krakouer cleverly kicked through the winning goal for the pies for their fifth win of the year against the undefeated Cat attack.
Sydney and Fremantle. Yep, who would have guessed it. A draw! With seconds on the clock it was all tied up at 70 a piece. Michael Johnson kicked a long ball inside Freo's forward 50 only to be marked on the line by Sydney young gun, Sam Reid. The draw was the first of 2013.
Carlton's Heath Scotland, Andrew Walker and captain Marc Murphy all played milestone games in the Blues 18 point win over Port Adelaide.
Melbourne played with some grit in the first half against Richmond winning their first 1st quarter of the year. The Demons stayed with them in the second quarter but the Tigers were 34 point victors in the end.
St.Kilda travelled to Adelaide to take on the Crows for the twilight match but the inexperienced Saints uniform struggled to match with the Crows line up. St.Kilda losing the match by just under 7 goals.
Monday 13 May 2013
Iron man 3
The new iron man film has just come out staring: Robert Downey jr,Don Cheadle,Gwyneth Paltrow,Guy Pearce and Ben Kingsley.
Following the events of the avengers, Tony Stark[Downey jr] is confronted with his biggest challenge yet : The Mandarin [Note: Not a fruit]. Played by Ben Kingsley, the Mandarin threatens everything Tony Loves.
Verdict: A good film but not as good as number one. 4\5
Following the events of the avengers, Tony Stark[Downey jr] is confronted with his biggest challenge yet : The Mandarin [Note: Not a fruit]. Played by Ben Kingsley, the Mandarin threatens everything Tony Loves.
Verdict: A good film but not as good as number one. 4\5
DEE-moralising
Acting Melbourne CEO, Peter Jackson told media earlier in the week that Melbourne were not respected by the football world. It was always hard to bring fans to the mother's day clash with the Suns. It was a gloomy,wet, miserable Sunday afternoon. Still 13 000 was unexceptable at the 'G. The Suns came out raging and kicked 5 goals to Melbourne's 0 in the first quarter. Melbourne lost the second quarter as well, trailing the Suns by 37 points at half time. Gary Ablett Jnr. once again was instrumental with his 22 disposals to the main break.
Gold Coast's early pressure took it's toll on the inexperienced Demons recording their first ever win in Melbourne by 10 goals. Melbourne coach Mark Neeld was under the pump in his post match press conference. The big question on everybody's tongue is 'When will Mark Neeld get sacked? How long does he have left at the Demons? Will he last out the year? Only time will tell for the dees.
Gold Coast's early pressure took it's toll on the inexperienced Demons recording their first ever win in Melbourne by 10 goals. Melbourne coach Mark Neeld was under the pump in his post match press conference. The big question on everybody's tongue is 'When will Mark Neeld get sacked? How long does he have left at the Demons? Will he last out the year? Only time will tell for the dees.
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