GO Aussies 1-0 after the home leg half way to to the World Cup Same again in Montavideo and everything will be SWEET!!! http://www.theworldgame.com.au/content/news/displayContent.asp?CID=15806&PID=21 One precious goal! Australia will carry a precious one-nil advantage to Montevideo courtesy of a Kevin Muscat penalty in the first of their World Cup qualifiers against Uruguay at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The Socceroos were made to work hard for the victory by the well-organised visitors and didn’t manage to break through until 12 minutes from time when substitute striker Paul Agostino was felled in the area by Dario Rodriguez. Muscat sent ‘keeper Fabio Carini the wrong way, but immediately after the final whistle, the defender with the enforcer’s reputation was keen to keep the win in perspective. “The job’s only half done. There’ll be no celebrating yet. We don’t go there sitting back, if we get the away goal it will make it very difficult for them,” Muscat said. The Australians will have a brief rest before boarding a pre-dawn flight for Montevideo where the tie will be completed on Sunday. The prize for the winner is the 32nd and final place in next year’s World Cup Finals. The win was Australia's first at home in this final play-off stage. Before 84,646 fans in a stadium splashed with green and gold, the contest was only two minutes through when Uruguay danger-man Alvaro Recoba conjured a speculative ‘look-away’ lob from all of 40 metres. The effort was goal-bound for sure, forcing Mark Schwarzer to backtrack from his station on the edge of the area to gather right under the crossbar with barely an inch to spare. It was useful wake-up call for the Australians and a keen reminder that danger lurked in the most innocuous of places. The Australians recovered their momentum, using the flanks effectively as expected and forced a succession of corners at the Punt Road end – one of which almost earned an early goal for Craig Moore. Endeavouring to repeat last Sunday’s effort against France, the Glasgow Rangers man met Stan Lazaridis’ cross from the left flush from ten yards, only for Carini to tip it over. Uruguay enjoyed a bit more of the ball over the next 20 minutes, and this period of relative equilibrium culminated with blasts from Recoba and Gerardo Magallanes that prompted brief flutters in defence. But it was the Australians who finished the half the stronger – just as they had nine days earlier against France. Harry Kewell was the catalyst and proving a handful for his occasional marker Dario Rodriguez who earned the first yellow card of the tie for a cynical lunge from behind in the 32nd minute. In a blink, Kewell, who had a roving commission in attack, had slipped his man and was charging towards goal from deep on the right when felled. The Australians went on to earn themselves eight corners for the period to Uruguay’s none. Despite a couple of near-things, however, most of Australia’s set-pieces were handled with assurance by Carini and his assistants in blue. Farina sought to make better use of these opportunities in the second period by bringing on Paul Agostino for Lazaridis at half-time, moving Kewell across to the left where he operates so effectively for Leeds. The hosts resumed brightly, forcing two more corners in as many minutes – but signs of impatience were beginning to emerge. Emerton looked great when carrying the ball, but was failing fulfil his primary brief – to link, deliver and service his strikers. The momentum swung back Uruguay’s way for a spell when De Los Santos headed fractionally wide from a wicked Recoba free, then Recoba himself set off on a scorching run down the left in the 62nd minute. His blast from about 12 yards was blocked brilliantly by Schwarzer low at his near post. Kewell was settling in nicely on the left and created opportunities for Murphy, Viduka and then Agostino to head Australia into the lead. It was the powerful TSV 1860 Munich striker who came closest, rising to nod Kewell’s cross in the 69th minute onto Carini’s right upright from 15 yards. Agostino was to play a more telling role, however, nine minutes on when, charging on to a low cross ball from Kewell, he went to ground under a challenge from Rodriguez. Referee Graziano Cesari gestured immediately to the spot to lukewarm protests – by South American standards – from the men in light blue. Muscat stepped up as though the moment was made for him, wiped his face and stroked the ball powerfully straight down the middle as Carini dived left. It crashed into the back of the very net that Peter Hore brought crashing down four years ago. Never in doubt. Muscat transformed back into his enforcer role in the closing minutes, earning himself a yellow card for a two-footed tackle in Gianni Guigou. It was desperate, inspirational stuff - but Australia will need more of the same in buckets at the Centenario next Sunday.
Monday morning is going to be absolutely nerve wrecking... I cried after the Iran game four years ago...it took me weeks to get over...it still hurts Last night was a great result in that we didn't concede a goal. I can see us getting one in Uruguay, thus they will need three to beat us. Viduka has been VERY quiet the past few games, so I am expecting the extra room he will get when Uruguay go forward may give him the chance to do something. I saw Paul Okon play when he was a kid and he's always been a favourite...but him and Skoko need to run at defenders more. We need someone dragging defenders in the middle off Viduka. GO THE AUSSIES!!!!!!!
