Socceroos vs Indonesia live: Australia turn up the heat with 3-0 second half lead in key World Cup qualifier

It’s a free-kick, and perhaps a soft one.

Ole Romeny is backing into Cam Burgess and it’s well within range, straight in front of goal, just back from the D.

Ver Donk thumps and it cannons straight into the face of Lewis Miller and out for a corner.

The corner’s a good one but Australia manages to get it away.

The players are back out on the field and there are two new faces for Australia: Brandon Borello and Craig Goodwin.

Adam Taggert and Martin Boyle get an early mark.

For Indonesia, Brisbane Roar’s Rafael Struik is off and Eliano Reijnders, brother of AC Milan’s Tijjani, is into the fray.

As the teams return for the second half – it’s worth mentioning the Socceroos are wearing their new kit for the first time.

The Matildas already debuted it in the SheBelieves Cup, and now it’s the men’s turn.

It’s designed by Kamilaroi artist Reko Rennie, the first time an Australian national football collection has been designed by a First Nations artist.

That was undoubtedly one of the strangest halves of football I’ve ever seen.

Australia was second best for much of the opening 45 minutes, but head to the sheds with a likely unassailable lead.

Indonesia started well on-top, controlling possession, stringing passes together.

The visitors forced a fine save from Matt Ryan early on, before Kye Rowles brought down Rafael Struik in the box.

But Indonesia spurned the chance to take a deserved early lead. Diks’ penalty cannoned off the crossbar.

Only a matter of moments later, Australia had a penalty of its own, which Martin Boyle converted with aplomb.

Nishan Velupillay then doubled the lead before Jackson Irvine made it 3-0 10 minutes from half-time.

See you soon for half number two!

It’s not a new strategy Chris, but one increasingly being used by more of the lower ranked nations as they look to supercharge their sides.

Your main blogger for this evening Henry Hanson explored this recently with a great piece charting Jack Hingert’s journey from Brisbane Roar to the Sri Lankan side. 

And let’s not forget – Australia’s first goal scorer Martin Boyle is Scottish-born.

A corner for Indonesia as we near first half stoppage time.

It’s whipped in appetisingly to the back post, and an Indonesian shirt gets a head to it.

However, Hilgers can’t rise high enough and the ball dribbles out for an Australian throw on the far side.

Indonesia has had the bulk of the ball and strung some nice passes together.

However, that high line, as well as aa bit of defensive tentativeness, has let the visitors down.

Clinical stuff from Australia.

It’s Jackson Irvine on the second bite of the cherry!

Velupillay is incisive and enterprising, driving his way into the box yet again. He finds Irivine, who spreads it to Boyle.

He gets it back into Irvine, who, basically on the penalty spot, forces a fine save from Paes in Indonesia’s goal.

But the rebound finds Irvine once again. He makes no mistake on the second time of asking and rifles it into the roof net.

Hard to believe, but the Socceroos are 3-0 up.

It’s courageous stuff from the visitors.

They are pressing high without the ball, and when they have it, the whole team pushes forward quickly.

It’s only holding midfielder Ver Donk providing defensive assistance to the centre-half.

The Socceroos continue to be happy in sitting back and let their visitors push on.

After an absolutely ridiculous 10-minute period, the game has slowed a touch.

There’s a stoppage in play as Indonesia’s Hilgers is down with a knock.

What a ridiculous game football is.

Indonesia’s high press is their undoing. Their backline camped on half-way, Adam Taggert does well to win the ball back and chip it over the top.

Nishan Velupillay sprints onto it and has a clear run at goal.

He expertly flashes it over the goalkeeper and high into the middle of the net.

It’s 2-0 and Australia has breathing room. Somehow.

And breathe.

Cool as you like from Martin Boyle.

He slots the penalty with style, low and hard to the keepers’ right.

It has been an unbelievable start to the game.

Hang on!

A few minutes ago, an Australian corner was whipped into the box and comfortably headaed away by the Indonesian defence.

Lewis Miller looked to be pulled down but there was no decision from the referee.

A few minutes later, and it’s a VAR review.

The referee takes about one hundred hours to make the decision BUT…it’s eventually a penalty to Australia!

It’s a driving run from Martin Boyle, who makes his way into the box and his deflected shot forces a fine save from the Indonesian goalkeeper.

It has been a commanding start from Indonesia.

They have looked like the home side so far tonight in Sydney.

Australia still yet to have a meaningful spell of possession, but Indonesia’s so-far high press will yield chances eventually.

The Indonesian’s are making yet another foray into Australia’s half, but Lewis Miller is impeded and the green and gold has a chance to reset.

ABC Sport is calling this game live for anyone who’d like to listen along with our football commentator extraordinaire Ned Hall and former Socceroo Paul Reid. Just click on ABC Sport Extra.

After that close call with Indonesia’s penalty miss Reid says “hopefully that’s a bit of wake up call for (the Socceroos) to stamp their authority on this game.”

What a let off for the Socceroos!

Diks, making only his second appearance for Indonesia, smashes the penalty into to the top of Matthew Ryan’s left hand post.

It thunders back into play but no-one in a red shirt can make the most of the rebound.

Woah.

Australia very lucky.

The ball is dribbling into the box and Kye Rowles takes down Rafael Struik.

Not much contact, but enough for the decision not to be overturned by VAR…