The Socceroos have got their automatic qualification hopes for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ back on track after a convincing 4-0 win over Vietnam on Thursday night.
In front of almost 28,000 fans in Melbourne, Australia rediscovered their attacking mojo to snap their three-game winless run in this phase of qualifying and keep the pressure on Group B leaders Saudi Arabia and Japan.
Even with coach Graham Arnold forced to watch from his hotel room due to Covid, the home side dominated from the outset with Jamie Maclaren and Tom Rogic both scoring in an entertaining first-half.
Substitutes Craig Goodwin and Riley McGree both scored their first international goals after the break to complete the rout to give the side a huge confidence boost ahead of the trip to play Oman next week.
With Aziz Behich stranded in Turkey, Sydney FC youngster Joel King made his international debut and was rock-solid at left-back, with Melbourne City’s Marco Tilio also earning his first senior cap with a late cameo off the bench.
