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This was published 6 months ago

Colombia puts virus-stricken Socceroos to the sword in 3-0 win

Vince Rugari
Updated ,first published

Key Posts

MATCH REPORT: Socceroos stumble in World Cup tune-up
FULL-TIME: Colombia 3-0 Australia
Make that 3-0 to Colombia...
And there it is … 2-0 to Colombia
PENALTY! Colombia! 1-0
TEAM NEWS: Popovic goes with an experienced XI

Popa points finger at virus, referee after Australia’s poor defeat

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Tony Popovic has revealed a virus swept through Socceroos camp on the eve of their 3-0 defeat to Colombia, rendering his players unable to train and praising them for their performance in the circumstances.

Wednesday’s (AEDT) loss at Citi Field in Queens, New York was the team’s third in succession – the first time that has happened in over 11 years, raising questions about how far Popovic’s defence-first tactical plan can take them at next year’s World Cup, and the lack of attacking imagination they have shown in his tenure as coach.

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Australia had only two shots to Colombia’s 16, with all three goals coming in the final 15 minutes after a contentious penalty forced them to go on the attack and leave spaces behind that were brutally exploited by the South Americans.

But any analysis of the match must be couched in Popovic’s post-match revelation that players and staff were bedridden due to sickness after their 1-0 defeat to Venezuela over the weekend in Houston, Texas, which partly explains why they fell away so badly late.

MATCH REPORT: Socceroos stumble in World Cup tune-up

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The Socceroos will finish 2025 on a three-game losing streak and off the back of their heaviest defeat under Tony Popovic after collapsing to a 3-0 loss to Colombia.

Australia wanted a response from Saturday’s flat 1-0 loss to Venezuela and turned in a vastly improved performance, until Colombia skipper James Rodriguez converted a contentious penalty in the 76th minute.

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Superstar Luis Diaz added a second goal from a defensive mix-up in the 89th minute before Jefferson Lerma bundled home four minutes later at New York’s Citi Fields.

It was a particularly disappointing end given a back five marshalled by Milos Degenek had defended with aplomb for the first 75 minutes.

Does this explain things?

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Here’s some of what Tony Popovic just said:

I have to mention for the players … they didn’t train on Sunday. The whole group was sick in bed. So we kept that quiet, because the players wanted to keep that quiet. So that’s a credit to them. I was happy to mention that, but the players wanted to keep that quiet.

We had a virus through the whole squad, including the staff, so we were unable to train Sunday - so the entire day, everyone was in bed. We flew three hours on Monday, came here and put up a really good, brave performance.

I’m actually surprised at how well they did, because physically, though, clearly nowhere near it.

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In other news... Curaçao has qualified for the World Cup!

By AP

Curaçao salvaged a 0-0 draw with Jamaica on Tuesday to become the smallest nation by population to qualify for a World Cup and will be joined by CONCACAF sides Panama and Haiti which also booked their spots.

Curaçao finished as the only undefeated nation in the tournament and finished atop of Group B with 12 points to advance to the World Cup for the first time in its history.

Curaçao got the historic result it needed despite not having his coach Dick Advocaat. on the bench. The 78-year-old Advocaat missed the crucial match because he had to return to the Netherlands last weekend for family reasons.

Advocaat was at the helm of the Netherlands national team for three stints and managed South Korea, Belgium and Russia before taking the job with Curacao.

According to the Central Bureau of Statistics in Curaçao, the country has a population of 156,115 persons as of last January. Iceland, with a population of just over 350,000 was the smallest country to reach the World Cup when it qualified for the tournament in Russia in 2018.

The full-time stats sheet makes for more grim reading

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FULL-TIME: Colombia 3-0 Australia

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The final whistle is blown.

Colombia prevail 3-0 on a disappointing night for the Socceroos, who fall once again to a CONMEBOL opponent - one that turned the screws in brutal fashion after that late penalty, which changed things, with all three goals coming in a 17-minute blitz.

That’s three consecutive defeats for Australia. Can’t remember the last time that happened.

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Make that 3-0 to Colombia...

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They’re not off the hook yet. Here’s a corner kick, and Colombia can sniff a third goal … James takes it, and there it is.

Izzo makes an initial save on Lerma but the Socceroos fail to clear the danger and someone prods it over the line. Not sure who it was. It is Lerma, actually, who recovers and taps it in.

That hurts.

James Rodriguez of Colombia celebrates with teammate Luis Diaz.Getty Images

Colombia 3-0 Australia, 90+3 minutes

And there it is … 2-0 to Colombia

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As the Socceroos push hard for an equaliser … they’re leaving gaps in defence. And a long ball from their goalkeeper has just undone them.

It sits perfectly for Borre is who goes one-on-one with Paul Izzo. He rushes out of his area, but can’t defuse the situation, and it falls for Luis Diaz, who passes it into an empty net.

Demoralising finish for Australia, with six minutes of added time to come.

Colombia 2-0 Australia, 90 minutes

Boyle brought down

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Yellow card for Jefferson Lerma as he chops down Martin Boyle, who was threatening to break away on the counter attack.

From the free kick that follows, the Socceroos turn it over straight away.

You can see Nestory Irankunda getting frustrated. He’s hardly had a sniff and looks desperate to spring forward and change things for Australia.

Colombia 1-0 Australia, 86 minutes

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Colombia sends on more fresh legs

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As Australia looks to attack more often, Colombia senses more opportunities in the other direction. So this game is heating up.

It’s a corner kick now for Colombia - on their right side, so expect an in-swinger from James.

As we wait for that to be taken, Yaser Asprilla is coming off, and so too is Guan Camilo Portilla. On comes Jefferson Lerma and Jorge Carrascal.

The corner, once it’s eventually taken, is cleared, but the Socceroos can’t hang onto the ball, so Colombia recycles possession and will look to mount another attack.

Colombia 1-0 Australia, 82 minutes

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