Australia delivered a dominant performance to dismantle Indonesia 5-1 in their FIFA World Cup 2026 Asian Qualifiers 3rd Round Group C clash at the Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney.
Both teams entered the match desperate for a win, with Adam Taggart leading the attack for the Socceroos while Indonesia placed their hopes on Marselino Ferdinan and Rafael Struick. The visitors almost stunned the hosts in the fifth minute when Jay Idzes connected with a Calvin Verdonk set-piece, forcing Maty Ryan into a sharp tipping save.
Two minutes later, Indonesia had a golden opportunity to take the lead after Kye Rowles fouled Struick inside the box. However, luck deserted them as Kevin Diks’ penalty struck the right post, allowing Australia to breathe a sigh of relief.
Shaken but not stirred, the Socceroos gradually asserted their dominance. A VAR intervention awarded Australia a penalty in the 18th minute after Nathan Tjoe-A-On fouled Lewis Miller. Martin Boyle made no mistake from the spot, calmly sending Maarten Paes the wrong way to give Australia the lead.
Sensing Indonesia’s growing urgency, Australia capitalized on defensive lapses. In the 26th minute, Nishan Velupillay burst through the center, lofting a delightful chip over the advancing Paes to double the lead.
The Socceroos struck again in the 34th minute, with Velupillay initiating a swift attack. His pass found Jackson Irvine, whose first effort was parried by Paes, only for the ball to rebound perfectly for him to fire into the top right corner, making it 3-0 before halftime.
Indonesia resumed the second half with renewed aggression. Ole Romenij saw his effort denied by Ryan in the 53rd minute, while Thom Haye’s follow-up attempt failed to hit the target.
Despite Indonesia’s pressing, Australia remained clinical. In the 60th minute, a swift counterattack saw Craig Goodwin set up Brandon Borrello, but Paes reacted swiftly to push the shot away for a corner. From the resulting set-piece, Goodwin delivered a perfect cross for Miller, who rose unmarked to power home a diving header and put Australia 4-0 up.
Indonesia’s persistence finally paid off in the 78th minute when Romenij outmaneuvered Jason Geria before slotting past Ryan for a deserved goal. However, Australia had the final word. In the dying moments, Irvine climbed highest to meet another Goodwin corner, sealing a commanding 5-1 victory.
With this emphatic win, Australia shifts focus to their next challenge against China PR, aiming to strengthen their grip on Group C. Meanwhile, Indonesia, eager to bounce back, will host Bahrain in a crucial encounter.
Credit Photo : AFC
