The National Times - Australia 'extremely disappointed' with Indonesia draw in World Cup qualifier

Australia 'extremely disappointed' with Indonesia draw in World Cup qualifier


Australia 'extremely disappointed' with Indonesia draw in World Cup qualifier
Australia 'extremely disappointed' with Indonesia draw in World Cup qualifier / Photo: © AFP

Australia football head coach Graham Arnold said his side were "extremely disappointed" after their goal-drought continued into a second World Cup qualifier, this time leading to a 0-0 draw with Indonesia in Jakarta.

Change text size:

The Socceroos dominated in front of almost 80,000 fans at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium on Tuesday, but sit second-from-bottom of Group C with a single point from their opening two qualifying games.

Australia again failed to score following their shock 1-0 defeat at home to Bahrain last week in their opening qualifier.

The Socceroos had 19 shots against Indonesia and dominated possession to force 15 corners, but still could not hit the back of the net.

"It was a vastly improved performance, but we're extremely disappointed because how many chances do we create? How many chances do we give?" said an exasperated Arnold.

"It's been a common theme for over a year."

Arnold praised his team for dominating the game despite the hostile home crowd, but rued the result.

"The boys put in the effort. They all admitted their performance wasn't good enough in the first game (against Bahrain)," he added.

Australia next face China in Adelaide, then Japan away in next month's qualifiers, but the Socceroos boss insisted there was no cause for concern.

"There are eight games to go, so it's not a disaster, but I have to go home and do a lot of thinking."

Bayern Munich teenager Nestory Irankunda had Australia's best chance of the game when he hit the post after half an hour.

"It was our game all along, we should have won it," said 18-year-old Irankunda.

"I hit it perfectly, I was just one centimetre away," he added of his near-miss.

"Obviously they gave us some trouble, but we kept our heads. One point is okay, but it would have been nice to have had three.

"We go again in the next round."

Portsmouth midfielder Sam Silvera said the Australian team was frustrated by their lack of finishing.

"We made a massive improvement from the other day, but again it just lacks that final quality to put it in the back of the net."

G.Waters--TNT

Featured

Maswanganyi Clarifies Pirates Allegiance Amidst Career Transition

Patrick Maswanganyi has addressed speculation surrounding his career by reaffirming that Orlando Pirates remains his dream club, despite growing up as a Kaizer Chiefs supporter. Speaking during an exclusive interview, the Bafana Bafana international also clarified the nature of his relationship with former coach Abdeslam Ouaddou following his recent exit from the Soweto giants.

Kuwait's Yasmeen Waleed Wins High Jump Gold at Dakar Youth Olympics

Kuwaiti athlete Yasmeen Waleed has won the gold medal in the high jump at the fourth Summer Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal. Her victory established a new Kuwaiti national record of 1.80 meters, marking a significant milestone for the nation's youth sports program.

Matvei Michkov Leads Flyers in Goals but Ranks Sixth in Ice Time

Matvei Michkov leads the Philadelphia Flyers with 10 goals through 20 games, but his total ice time ranks sixth among the team's forwards. Head coach Rick Tocchet has concentrated Michkov’s additional minutes on the power play, where he has scored five of his goals, while his even-strength usage has remained relatively stable compared to last season.

Northern California Jewish Sports Hall of Fame Announces 2026 Inductees

The Northern California Jewish Sports Hall of Fame (NCJSHOF) has announced its Class of 2026 inductees, honoring four individuals for their athletic achievements and community contributions. The organization will celebrate the new class during its 19th Annual Induction Dinner Gala on November 22 at the Olympic Golf Club in South San Francisco.

Change text size: