Football: Socceroos midfielder Keanu Baccus has scored his first ever international goal with an absolute screamer against Lebanon at Commbank Stadium.
The Socceroos struggled to create much in the way of chances, outside of a lucky fifth-minute goal from Keanu Baccus that he joked was deliberate – but really was intended as a cross.
“He gives you that little bit of X factor,” coach Graham Arnold said. “Some of the flicks around the corner, the little chips over the top – those type of things are what we’re wanting, and what we need in the final third against some of these opponents.” In the current squad, there is 36-year-old Bruno Fornaroli, 33-year-old Mitchell Duke, and 30-year-old Adam Taggart, while Brandon Borrello is 28.
No centre forward has scored for the Socceroos since before the Asian Cup in January – now a six-game drought.That was on full display tonight. Sure, all-but-one of those matches have come against lower-ranked opponents, but you can’t deny that the Socceroos success is being built on a foundation of a strong defence – even if that clean sheet was somewhat fortunate, given Lebanon finished the better side and struck the post late on.
Meanwhile Maty Ryan, the captain and first-choice number one, was typically solid between the sticks and made two fine saves. Keanu Baccus and Connor Metcalfe were both impressive after being named in the starting XI on Thursday night, while the returning Ajdin Hrustic also reminded Arnold what he can offer the team.
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