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Half time: Socceroos 1-1 China

7 minutes agoThu 10 Oct 2024 at 10:04am

45+2' The Socceroos equalise!

12 minutes agoThu 10 Oct 2024 at 9:58am

20' China score!

39 minutes agoThu 10 Oct 2024 at 9:31am

59m agoThu 10 Oct 2024 at 9:11am

Key Event

7m agoThu 10 Oct 2024 at 10:04am

Well, not quite what the doctor ordered.

This has been a laboured 45 minutes from the Socceroos, who started brightly, earning over 80 per cent of the ball in the first 20 minutes.

However, China's counter attack strike sucked the air out of Adelaide Oval and, from that point on, the nerves and doubts looked like they were creeping in.

But up stepped Lewis Miller to score his maiden international goal at a crucial time in first-half stoppage time to keep Australia's hopes alive.

Long way to go yet, but China's pressure at the end of the match showed that they are not done yet.

The Socceroos are really under pressure here, as this half drags indeterminably on.

Another ball is whipped in, the Socceroos clear and finally the referee calls time.

Oh Harry Souttar had to be accurate there with his tackle.

Fei Nanduo got in behind into the penalty area and Souttar raced across and made a really well-timed lunging tackle to concede a corner and nothing more - despite a nervous look at the referee.

The Chinese corner, their first, is not really cleared and the pressure remains for Australia, who have to concede another corner!

Key Event

12m agoThu 10 Oct 2024 at 9:58am

Lewis Miller with the header!

A first international goal from the Sydney born Hibs defender!

He's been very lively so far, and he's nodded home from a perfect Craig Goodwin cross!

Tony Popovic clenched his fist when the freekick was given in such a promising position - and he was vindicated.

Hang on... VAR is checking...

Surely not. Doesn't look like there's anything there.

No, goal is good! It's 1-1.

Just a bit sloppy from Hu Hetao, catching Aziz Behich on the left side of the field.

The Socceroos have a free kick 10 metres from the byline, five metres in from the left touchline.

Interesting - goalscorer Xie Wenneng had his foot very high there as the pair challenged for the ball, and brought it down hard on Irankunda's foot.

He is down and the Socceroos kick the ball out to give the young star some treatment.

He will be OK to carry on.

Mitch Duke, on the turn, after being played in by a really nice ball from Craig Goodwin, can't wrap his foot around the ball and flashes it wide.

That's much better from Australia, using the possession that they have in the Chinese defensive third effectively.

The Socceroos need an injection of something here - and Craig Goodwin tries to provide it.

His shot from outside the penalty area is blocked out to Aziz Behich, whose cross is cleared away by the Chinese defence.

Simon Hill on commentary for Channel 10 has just pointed out that the Socceroos have not scored in three and a half hours of football.

Their opponents in that time?

Bahrain, Indonesia and China, ranked 73, 129 and 91.

The Socceroos are ranked 25.

Li Lei has absolutely flown in there like a red-shirted terrier to tackle Lewis Miller, just catching the Australian.

The referee shows  a yellow card very quickly, which VAR decides is reasonable and, on replay, you'd say that's fair.

It was a very strong challenge though and Li Lei will have to be careful given how he has thrown himself about in the last 10 minutes or so.

He looks to be in a bit of discomfort after being nailed in another physical challenge by Li Lei.

It looked a legit challenge to the fair, but Duke might have just been caught on the shoulder and needs a bit of treatment.

He'll be OK to continue, as both sets of players go over and get some instruction from their coaches.

It looked a bit dramatic initially, which may have been what swayed the referee against him there, but the replay shows that Jiang Shenglong did get a bit physical there against the Socceroos right wingback as he chased down a lost cause on the byline, just outside the penalty area.

You'd have to say that would be a free kick in most places on the pitch...

Nestory Irankunda picks up the ball and shoots from a fair way out, sending the ball wide of the target.

The crowd have livened up but that won't be the way for Australia to score here - patience is required, even if that is being tested by the current scoreline.

Really poor from Nestory Irankunda, giving the ball away on half way with a very wayward pass and it's only Thomas Deng's work at the back that denied China another sight on goal.

Key Event

39m agoThu 10 Oct 2024 at 9:31am

Oh my.

That's a wonderful finish, but completely against the run of play.

It's a long ball, headed on by Zhang Yuning to Xie Wenneng, who slots past Joe Gauchi.

Adelaide Oval is stunned into silence.

China leads 1-0.

Dalei Wang hasn't been fully tested with a shot yet, but the Socceroos are dominating this match so far.

The hosts have had 80 per cent possession and have made more than three times as many passes as their rivals so far.

Tony Popovic's side just need to stay patient and make sure the Chinese, who just have a decent raid down the left and cross beyond any of the supporting runners in the middle, don't build up their own confidence.

Fei Nanduo, also known by his Brazilian name Fernandinho, gets in behind the Socceroos defence there.

He's got some pace, the Sao Paulo-born striker, but he can't find a teammate in support - and the flag goes up too.

Just something for the Socceroos to be aware of on the counter attack.

This time on Lewis Miller, who was clearly pushed as he run towards the penalty area on the right flank.

It was a very dumb decision and has left Miller with a little graze on his elbow.

Goodwin swings in the freekick and China, somehow, manage to scramble the ball away despite failing to make contact properly first up.