International Friendly (Soccer Ashes), Tuesday 17th October
I was at Brentford's G-Tech Community Stadium on Tuesday evening for something different as I attended the latest instalment of what is known as the 'Soccer Ashes' between Australia and New Zealand.
It was a rare International Game for me these days and I only found out about the game two days before it was scheduled so I thought why not and purchased a ticket for £24, which was top end too, so a very decent seat and view, not bad for a match between to rivals who were contesting for a trophy.
The Soccer Ashes is based on the concept of The Ashes in Cricket between The Aussies and England, and the cigars of former Aussie skipper Alec Gibb and former New Zealand captain George Campbell were encased by a New Zealand soldier during the First World War and competed for in 1923 when New Zealand defeated the Socceroos.
The prize did go missing in the mid 1950s but was recently found and will now once again competed for, so it was a privilege to have this taking place in West London and Brentford's wonderful G-Tech, this was my third visit to the stadium and I am impressed every single time I go, it's a fabulous venue and right next to Kew Bridge railway station too so very convenient.
This was the seventh edition of the Soccer Ashes, and in the previous six the Socceroos had won four of those and drawn one other, with New Zealand's only win coming in that first edition back in 1923, and with the Aussies being ranked 77 places above their opponents in the FIFA World Rankings, it was fair to say Australia were clear favourites to win this latest contest too.
The Socceroos reached the last 16 of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and only narrowly lost to eventual champions Argentina and have reached a very decent 27th in the world rankings, New Zealand have managed to just one win in eight games since they won the OFC qualification campaign to reach the 2022 World Cup inter-confederation play-offs last year.
The two sides also met prior to the world cup in 2022 as well, with the Aussies winning both with 1-0 and 2-0 score lines, so not many gave the New Zealanders much hope of victory in this one, although the Socceroos had lost their last four internationals and not won since defeating Ecuador in Sydney in March, so they were not in great form lately themselves.
However, in the 13th minute the Aussies got their noses in front although their was some confusion who got the opening goal, a well placed cross from Miller was nodded back into the heart of the penalty box by Alessandro Circati, who was making his debut, and centre forward Mitch Duke sent a powerful effort into the net, although it appeared to flick off the chest of team mate Harry Souttar on the way into the net.
Souttar was initially awarded the goal but was later given to Duke as he was credited with it on the match officials post match paperwork!!! What was certain was the Aussies lead, a lead they could and should have added too had it not been for a couple of decent stops from New Zealand keeper Michael Woud to thwart Connor Metcalfe and Martin Boyle.
The Aussies though were clearly the better side in the contest although the New Zealanders certainly battled well and gave their all in this one, but they rarely troubled Socceroos keeper Matt Ryan, Chris Wood did force a save from him in the first period, and a free kick struck the Aussies bar in the second half but apart from this the Aussies were fairly comfortable, and with fifteen minutes or so remaining sealed the deal with a second as Jackson Irvine, on as a second half substitute, climbed to head home a Boyle corner.
The Socceroos should have added a late third but saw Brandon Borrello miss an absolute sitter from close range, but it mattered not in the end as they took the Soccer Ashes for 2023, both sides will now look ahead to their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign which begins next month.
Full time Australia 2 New Zealand 0
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