Australia’s World Cup campaign back on track after 3-1 win over China | Qualifying tournaments for the 2026 World Cup

Australia’s World Cup dream is alive on Thursday evening after a 3-1 come-from-behind victory over China in Adelaide.

Trailing 1-0 at half-time, the Socceroos found themselves staring into the abyss with the very real prospect of World Cup failure staring back at them. But goals from Lewis Miller and Craig Goodwin either side of half-time, and an injury-time strike from Nishan Velupillay, made it a valuable three points in Tony Popovic’s first outing as Socceroos manager.

It gets their campaign back on track ahead of a tricky trip to Saitama Stadium next week to take on Japan, the continent’s standard-bearers who have scored 12 unanswered goals in their opening two games.

Any doubts that this was a new era in Australian football were put to rest 80 minutes before kick-off when, with hope and optimism filling the spring air at Adelaide Oval, it emerged that Popovic had made five changes to the squad against Indonesia last month.

The most significant change was to hometown hero Joe Gauci, the 24-year-old now on the books of Aston Villa given the nod to incumbent goalkeeper and former captain, Mat Ryan, who appears to have paid the price for a lack of play. time with his new Italian side, AS Roma.

The changes not only offered new faces, but also a fresh tactical approach with three or five backs depending on your view of the game. Early on they seemed to have had the desired effect as Australia played with the dynamism Popovic promised.

Balls were played forward, players found the half-spaces between the lines and Australia had China where they wanted them – camped in their own half. Popovic liked what he saw, sitting at the edge of his equipment room and applauding and encouraging his every move.

The early optimism gave way to a sense of frustration as the half progressed.

Popovic asked to be judged on the football his side played against China and while the initial intention was there, the quality mostly wasn’t, with the same problems of a lack of ingenuity and creativity in the final third, with their ugly head.

What the crowd of 46,291, a record for the Socceroos in Adelaide, did not expect was for China to take the lead, but the air was sucked out of the stadium when Xie Weneng did just that after 20 minutes, taking advantage of a weak stretch. of the Australian defense.

The goal derailed Australia, who by half-time were a shadow of the team that had started it, with the reality of the situation seemingly weighing them down.

But when Lewis Miller headed in Goodwin’s flawless free-kick just before half-time, relief was etched on his face. Relief not only for his side, but for himself as the Scotland-based full-back made his first appearance since a nightmare display against South Korea in the Asian Cup quarter-finals in January.

This time he was more confident, as were Australia in the second half, after Popovic made the substitutions at half-time, bringing on Thomas Deng and Nestory Irankunda for Jason Geria and Riley McGree.

The switch had the desired effect, with Australia returning to the more dynamic side they had been to start the match and eight minutes into the half Goodwin found all the space he needed to unleash a 25-yard thunderbolt, until great joy from not only his coach. , but also his adoring home crowd.

The three points were secured two minutes into injury time when Velpilay, following a flurry in the penalty area, scored on his international debut.