Wonder goal seals Socceroos’ fate
Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou has absolved his goalkeeper Adam Federici of any blame for the wonder goal from Greece’s Giannis Maniatis which condemned Australia to a shock 2-1 loss in last night’s friendly international at Etihad Stadium.
Georgios Tzavellas of Greece and Socceroo Apostolos Giannou contest for the ball. Photo: Joe Castro, AAP.
With Federici stationed well away from his goal, Maniatis chipped him from beyond the halfway line in the 21st minute to give Greece a two-goal lead.
The Socceroos managed to pull one goal back in the second half through Trent Sainsbury, but the visitors held on for a deserved win.
Federici was filling in for regular No.1 Mat Ryan in the Australian goal.
“It wasn’t a horrible mistake – Feders was doing what he was supposed to be doing,” said Postecoglou.
“That’s not his responsibility, it’s my responsibility because that’s how we want our goalkeeper to play.
“Every now and then that will happen to us and I’m prepared to accept that.
“In the longer term it sets us up to be the team we want to be.”
Postecoglou said Ryan was also encouraged to play up the ground as he wanted his goalkeeper to be more involved in general play.
“In the 30-odd games I’ve been in charge that’s the first time it’s happened,” he said.
“If it takes another 30 to happen for it to happen again, I’ll cop that, provided we’re able to play our football.”
Greece looked a much-improved side from the one which dropped the opening game of the two-match series 1-0 in Sydney on Saturday night.
The Socceroos’ next fixture is a World Cup qualifier at home to Iraq on September 1.
-AAP
