Australia v Indonesia: World Cup 2026 qualifier – live
Key events
This has been one of the more curious 5-1 games you’re ever likely to see, even allowing for the relatively uncommon scoreline. Nick Taylor drops us a line that suggests he’s not entirely convinced by the Socceroos.
“Lucky in lots of ways tonight. Sloppy on the ball and panicked under pressure. Passes lack accuracy. Don’t seem like a team who will trouble any top tier nations. Scoring was good but pretty woeful defending by Holland D”.
GOAL! Australia 5-1 Indonesia (Irvine 90)
A stunning header from Jackson Irvine makes the most of another perfectly-placed corner from Craig Goodwin. The Socceroos had been up against it in the dying stages despite holding a match-winning lead until, not for the first time, finding a goal against the run of play.
88 mins: Milos Degenek gets his first cap since September 2023 after a long stint on the sidelines. Kye Rowles comes to the bench.
84 mins: Indonesia slice open the Socceroos defence as Maty Ryan saves the day. Romenij does the damage again, this time surging down the left and darting in a cross. Eliano Reijnders shapes to guide a powerful shot toward goal where only sharp reflexes from the keeper prevent a second Indonesia goal.
81 mins: Thom Jan Haye comes down heavily after leaping for a header just inside the attacking half. Indonesia choose to switch the play rather than crossing the ball in which relieves the pressure on the Socceroos defence.
78 mins: Indonesia are not done yet with attacker Ramadhan Sananta and midfielder Ivar Jenner coming into the game. Marselino Ferdinan and defender Nathan Tjoe A On make way.
GOAL! Australia 4-1 Indonesia (Romenij 76)
A consolation goal for Indonesia and it is one that their performance has largely deserved. Ole Romenij has been the dangerman all evening and is sharpest to react and beat Jason Geria to the ball.
74 mins: There has been close to a 50-50 split in support this evening at Sydney Football Stadium with 35,241 in attendance.
72 mins: Lewis Miller and Nishan Velupillay have made the most of their opportunities but now make way for Fran Karacic and Daniel Arzani. Let’s see what the not-so-young-anymore Australian can do in attack.
70 mins: Indonesia have done well to create a handful of chances but they look set to be harder to come by as Australia drop into a 5-4-1 without the ball.
68 mins: The game has slowed down a touch as more substitutions for Indonesia look to pick up the pace. Australia are still content to let the visitors hold onto the ball.
66 mins: Sandy Walsh has only lasted a matter of minutes before being carried from the pitch on a stretcher. He doesn’t look to good. Rizky Ridho gets his chance.
64 mins: Another delay as Sandy Walsh crumbles under three Australian defenders. The Indonesia midfielder awaits some attention while the Mexican wave sets off around Sydney Football Stadium.
62 mins: Miller now has a goal to go with earning the penalty that opened the scoring, while Nishan Velupillay has also scored once and played a key role in another. Socceroos coach Tony Popovic will be quietly pleased with his selections.
GOAL! Australia 4-0 (Miller 61)
Lewis Miller reads the flight of Craig Goodwin’s corner best to dive forward and nod home a powerful header.
58 mins: It’s not only the Socceroos defence that is due a breather. Indonesia midfielder Mees Hilgers takes a seat in the middle of the pitch looking in some discomfort. The stretcher comes out but he waves that away before walking off to be replaced by Sandy Walsh.
56 mins: The Socceroos have barely made their way out of the defensive half since the break. A long ball from Rowles gives them some respite.
53 mins: Romenij isn’t done yet as he bursts wide and swings a left boot to send a shot toward the far post. Australia captain Ryan quickly gets down low and holds onto the ball with his left mit. That should be a wake up call for the Socceroos, on the off chance they needed one.
52 mins: Another great save from Ryan! And another strong period for Indonesia comes to nothing. Miller almost heads the ball back into the net as Ryan comes off his line trying to clear a cross, but the keeper can’t get enough on the ball before it trickles wide of the post for a corner.
51 mins: Calvin Verdonk ends the long wait to take the free kick and its nothing but an anti-climax has he slams the shot into the wall. Corner for Indonesia.
49 mins: An innocuous bomb forward earns a free kick for Indonesia just outside the box. Cam Burgess was leaning over Ole Romenij but the Indonesian attacker seemed to instigate all the contact.
47 mins: Australia have swung a couple of changes to their attack with Craig Goodwin and Brandon Borrello entering the fray as Martin Boyle and Adam Taggart make way.
46 mins: The second half gets under way and just as they did about an hour ago Indonesia are immediately on the attack.
Australia have built their 3-0 lead off the back of their only three shots on goal, while Indonesia have had a couple of shots with one on target. Indonesia have perhaps played into the Socceroos’ hands by having 59% possession and giving the hosts space to run into.
Half-time: Australia 3-0 Indonesia
The Socceroos head down the tunnel in control of the game at 3-0 but there has been much less between the two teams than that score suggests. Indonesia made the early running and might have opened the scoring but for a sharp save from Maty Ryan and a mis-fired spot kick from Kevin Diks. Australia went on to make Indonesia pay a huge price for those missed opportunities as Martin Boyle nailed his own penalty after a sloppy free kick on Lewis Miller off a corner.
Young Socceroos attacker Nishan Velupillay then silenced any doubters over his place in the side as he ran clear and onto a long pass from Adam Taggart to chip over keeper Paes under little pressure. Velupillay soon turned provider with a slicing run that ended with the ball at Jackson Irvine’s feet not once but twice, as the midfielder extended the lead. We’ll be back shortly to find out how Indonesia respond.
48 mins: A bit more grappling creeps into the contest with the players slowing down as we edge towards half-time. We’re yet to see a caution though.
46 mins: Six minutes of added time seems generous with few breaks other than to get second opinions for a pair of penalty calls. No complaints here though!
44 mins: Indonesia continue to work away on the left with hints of success. The visitors pick up another corner but Mees Hilgers’ header floats high for a goal kick.
42 mins: The third Australia goal has taken a bit of sting out of the game as the break approaches. That’s at least until Romenij almost creates something out of nothing as he gets off a shot that Geria only just gets a foot on.
40 mins: This contest has turned Australia’s way as a robust challenge from Irvine outside their defensive penalty box is waved away as the home side clear.
