The mid-game adjustment that helped Socceroos to emphatic win over Indonesia
Jacob Stevens 
Jackson Irvine celebrates his brace against Indonesia. Photo: Provided by Subway Socceroos.
Tony Popovic’s Australia side came away the victors Thursday night after a 5-1 thumping of Indonesia – but it was a tactical adjustment the players made in the middle of the game that gave them the spark they needed to win.
Man of the match Jackson Irvine explained that the players realised they had to bypass Indonesia’s high press if they were to stand a chance.
“It was arguably the hardest I’ve been pressed in a home game in a long time,” Irvine said.
“They were absolutely flying through; there was absolutely no time on the ball in the middle of the park.
“We had to control the second ball … I think we started to get a bit more of a hold on that as the game went on.
“And then it was all just about breaking that first line.”
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After a shaky start the @Socceroos have stunned Indonesia
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When Australia were able to get the ball into the space left vacant by the Indonesia press, they were also able to create some good chances.
In particular, the Socceroos backline looked to bypass the first level of the midfield, including Jackson and his midfield partner Aiden O’Neill, and play the ball directly into the feet of Martin Boyle and Adam Taggart.
Lewis Miller and Aziz Behich had good shifts up and down the wing, offering wide options, and Nishan Velupillay in the first half was key in leading the line and bursting in behind.
“Once we broke that pressure it looked like we were going to score every time we went through,” Irvine said.
“It’s obviously what lead to that second goal as well. I think it just took us a bit to settle in and to find where the spaces were.
“And then once we did that, we much improved in that second half of the first half.”
Head coach Tony Popovic praised his side’s adaptability in finding what worked, hoping to carry it forward as a learning opportunity for their match against China.
“Our decision making (early in the game) wasn’t great, but once we started [bypassing the press], you felt whenever someone half turned there was an opportunity,” Popovic said.
“So that’s a learning for us to be aware a little bit earlier on what the opponent’s doing.
“If they’re pressing us can we see that a bit earlier and bypass it and combine in those pockets behind that?”
