‘Socceroo’ Australia, which is trying to regain the top spot in the Asian Cup after 9 years, defeated underdog India and won the first match of the group stage.Australia scored two goals in the second half and won 2-0 in the first match of Group B of the 2023 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup against India held at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar on the 13th (Korean time).Australia, which enjoyed its first-ever victory in the 2015 tournament but was disappointed to be eliminated in the quarterfinals in the 2019 tournament, began its quest for the title for the first time in nine years in good spirits by sounding of victory in the first game of the group stage of this tournament.On the other hand, India, which had its best ever finish as runner-up in the 1964 tournament in which four teams participated, dreamed of a ‘surprise’ by holding the first half scoreless, but could not avoid defeat.
On this day, Yamashita Yoshimi (Japan), the first female referee in Asian Cup history, served as referee.Referee Yamashita also worked with female referees Makoto Bozono and assistant referee Naomi Teshirogi (Japan).Referee Yamashita previously served as referee in the 3rd match of Group G of the 2022 AFC Champions League (ACL) group stage between Jeonnam Dragons (Korea) and Melbourne City (Australia) in April 2022, making her name as the ‘ACL’s first female referee’. there is.On December 4, 2022, Australia faced Argentina in the round of 16 of the Qatar World Cup and returned to the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium after 13 months, where they lost 1-2 and were eliminated.
Australia, ranked 25th in the FIFA rankings, attacked unilaterally, but was unable to easily open the goal due to India’s (102nd) dense defense and occasional counterattacks.In the 14th minute of the first half, Australia’s Martin Boyle’s header was aimed straight at the goalkeeper, and in the 21st minute, Connor Metcalf’s right-footed shot from right in front of the penalty arc, taking advantage of the goalkeeper’s passing mistake, was blocked by the goalkeeper’s punching.Australia took as many as 12 corner kicks and 14 shots (including 2 effective shots) in the first half alone, but was unable to break ‘Young’s balance’ and entered the second half.
Australia finally scored in the 5th minute of the second half, and the star was midfielder Jackson Irvine.The Indian goalkeeper tried to punch Boyle’s cross from the right side, but was unable to get it far, and Irvine trapped the ball with his chest in front of the penalty area and scored the valuable first goal with a left-footed shot.Australia gained momentum, and in the 28th minute of the second half, Riley McGree’s cross to the right of the penalty area was diverted slightly by Jordan Boss with his left foot from the left side of the goal area to score an additional goal, sealing the victory.Boss came on as a substitute in the 27th minute of the second half and experienced the joy of 슬롯게이밍 scoring with his first touch of the ball just one minute after taking the field.