Irankunda returns for Australia in Soccer Ashes; kick off time, scores and results from GIO Stadium
Socceroos v New Zealand LIVE updates: Socceroos escape first half unscathed as Izzo blocks shots
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Key posts
All Whites make three substitutions
When is a bad time to start the wave?
The crowd at the northern end is trying to get a Mexican wave going. That says it all about this game. One to forget, so far.
Chances slipping away for Australia
A great chance for Australia literally slipped away for the Socceroos who get away with another chance up the other end leading to a very scrappy, albeit successful clearance by Cameron Burgess.
Australia 0-0 New Zealand, 60 minutes
New Zealand still dominating physical battle
The second half has picked up where the first left off – with the Socceroos looking very disjointed and the All Whites again dominating possession and the overall battle, physically speaking. Tony Popovic has made only one change, swapping out Sam Silvera after his injury scare for his usual right wing-back Lewis Miller, but I think more will be needed to wrestle back a sense of control here. The Australian midfield just can’t keep the ball and are being targeted by the Kiwi press.
Bos getting in the way
Chris Wood towers over the Socceroos but not only is he a few feet taller than them, he’s also a few feet in front of them and is called off-side granting Australia a brief reprieve from the striker who has made both shots on goal for New Zealand.
Jordan Bos is called out for a poor tackle on Callum McCowatt and the game pauses temporarily. Bos is only given a warning.
Australia 0-0 New Zealand, 50 minutes
Australia make subs as second half begins
Australia make two substitutions heading in to the second half. Lewis Miller and Aiden O’Neill are on to replace Samuel Silvera and Patrick Yazbek.
There are no changes for New Zealand.
The second half begins.
Australia 0-0 New Zealand, 46 minutes
Milos Degenek and Chris Wood.Credit: Getty Images
Half-time statistics
Half-time in Canberra
That’s it for the first half, Alessandro Circati and Cameron Burgess walk into the tunnel mulling over what they almost conceded but alas, the score is square.
Australia 0-0 New Zealand, half-time
At long last, a shot on goal
Finally – a shot. It took 43 minutes, Connor Metcalfe letting rip from the edge of the box, but it was easy work for the All Whites goalkeeper Max Crocombe. But again, that play was sparked by Jordan Bos, and if Martin Boyle didn’t get himself in the way of a ball that was meant to go to him when he was free on the left, I reckon the Socceroos would have generated a much better chance from that situation. This has been a really lacklustre half from Australia but Bos is the standout. He’s head and shoulders above the rest of the team at the moment – although Paul Izzo, on debut, deserves a lot of credit for a couple of key saves, including one from Chris Wood again which occurred as I was typing this. There’s a lot for Tony Popovic to address at half-time.
Izzo denies again
Boyle to Yazbek to Hrsutic to Metcalfe who strikes the ball in best shot (on target too) for the Socceroos tonight. It’s an easy catch for Max Crocombe though.
Up the other end of the pitch, Chris Wood has another go but once again Paul Izzo dives to his right and gets a palm to the face of the ball. It’s out for a corner.
Australia 0-0 New Zealand, 43 minutes
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